Calhoun Football Players: Where Did Our Coach Go?

Calhoun High School football players say that when they showed up for practice this summer, they were told that the squad's beloved special teams coach Brian Moeller had been removed from that post. 

On Wednesday night, the football team showed up en masse, nearly two dozen in all, at the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District Board of Education meeting to ask: Why?

Moeller, a social studies teacher at Calhoun, had been the special teams coordinator for the team for several years until being replaced this season by Matthew Kramer, a former assistant coach for the JV team.

School officials refused to discuss the matter Wednesday, saying that they cannot publicly discuss personnel issues.  Several people in the audience attempted to address the topic with the board, but were told it was not appropriate. 

"Theoretically, why wouldn't an individual be allowed to coach a varsity football team?" asked Aaron Fisher, a senior defensive tackle on the Colts football squad.

Outside the board room, football players said that they had been told little about the circumstances surrounding Moeller's departure.  

"He was as much of a friend as he was a coach," said Calhoun senior Nick Marcello, the team's kicker, of Moeller.  "All we want is some answers and we are not getting any."

Marcello said Moeller, who remains an assistant coach for the Colts boys basketball team, but now attends Calhoun football games only as a supervisor, had offered to help him scout out colleges to attend. 

"He sold himself out for everyone on the team," Marcello said of his former coach.  "He was like a personal mentor."

Brendan Nestola, a junior on the team, had high praise for Moeller as well. 

"He's the best person, coach, anyone..." Nestola said. "He knows how to connect with us."

Football parents were also stunned by the news of Moeller's departure.

"He's an integral part of their characters not only in the classroom, but on the football team as well," Steve Downey said of Moeller's influence on the Calhoun players.

The Calhoun football team will take the field at home against Roslyn on Saturday. Moeller may be there. It just won't be in the position many of the Colts faithful believe he should be.