shstrojansfootball@gmail.com

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Dave Masters is in his 31st season involved in high school football.  He has coached in over 320 high school football games in the state of Connecticut as an assistant or as the head coach.  The 2024 season begins his 22nd year at Simsbury and his 10th year as the head coach. Prior to the cancellation of the 2020 season, the Trojans completed the 2019 season with a 10-2 record, a 4th seed in the Class LL State Tournament and a win over Cheshire in the quarterfinal.  The Trojans have posted a 31-31 record over the past five years.  Qualifying for the 2019 tournament was the first time since 2009 and the win against Cheshire was the first in SHS history.  In Coach Masters tenure as a head coach the Trojans have:

• Sent 38 players to play D1, D2 and D3 NCAA football
• 42 CCC Tier 1 All Conference players 
• 4 CHSCA All State players
• 3 players selected to the Walter Camp Football Foundation All CT team
• Two players selected as a National Football Foundation Scholar
• Over 165 players named to the CCC Academic All Conference team 

Coach began as a varsity assistant for SHS in 2003.  He served as the offensive and defensive line coach as well as an offensive coordinator and assistant head coach.  

Coach has also served as an assistant coach for the Connecticut State All Star Football Team in 2008, 2009, 2010 & 2016 and as a varsity assistant for the Hall High School football team from 1993-2000.  Coach Masters is the currently the CCC representative for the Walter Camp Football Foundation.

Coach Masters stepped down as the varsity head baseball coach at Simsbury in 2019 after the Trojans won the CCC North League Championship.  That season marked his 9th at SHS and 21st overall as a head baseball coach.  Coach has accumulated 237 victories as a head coach in Connecticut. At the helm for Simsbury, Coach Masters led the Trojans to a 123-69 record, three league championships, a birth in the state tournament from 2011- 2019 and a win every year except 2017.  In 2014, 2015 and 2016 the Trojans saw a quarter-final(’15) and two semi-final appearances (’14 & ’17) in the LL state tournament. Prior to taking the job at Simsbury, Coach Masters spent 12 years as the head coach at Hall High School in West Hartford. His Warriors captured the CCC West League Championship in 2009. Additionally, Coach Masters served as the head coach for the 2014, 2015 and 2016 Connecticut District 1 Senior All Star Team and has served as the head coach and assistant for the Connecticut High School Baseball All Star Junior Select Team 2010-2013. Coach also served as CCC West League Chairperson for 14 years.  In his tenure as a head baseball coach, 50+ players have gone on to play D1, D2 and D3 NCAA baseball and seven of Coach Masters' former players have been drafted by Major League Baseball.

Coach Masters is currently an assistant for the track and field team.  

Coach has been an educator in the West Hartford Public School system since 1993 where he teaches physical education. In the West Hartford system, Coach Masters gained coaching experience having served as a varsity wrestling coach, varsity hockey assistant and JV lacrosse as well as his tenure running the baseball program at Hall from 1999-2010. He also coached baseball and basketball in Somers, CT from 1991-1993.

Coach Masters is from Penn Yan, which is in the Finger Lakes Region of New York where he played football, basketball and baseball, earning honors at the state and league levels for baseball and football. Coach played amateur baseball in the summer thru college. Coach Masters attended Springfield College where he played football and earned his degree in K-12 Physical Education. His graduate work was at Central Connecticut State University where he earned his Master’s degree in Educational Leadership.

Coach Masters resides in Simsbury with his wife. His two children graduated from Simsbury High School.  Jackson graduated from the University of Tampa and works in the Tampa area and Ellie attends the University of New Hampshire. 

Mike Furey

Defensive Coordinator

Coach Furey serves as the defensive coordinator and the transformation of the defense was evident in the success of the program in terms of wins and the numbers put up by the tough Trojan D.  Winning the first playoff game and landing in the Class LL State Semifinal had a lot to do with our strong defense in 2019.  Mike was a standout LB for the Trojans in high school before going to Stonehill to play college ball.  Coach Furey was a defensive coordinator in Massachusetts before joining the staff in 2016.  Coach is a guidance counselor in Canton and lives in Simsbury with his wife and children.

 

Marquise Ruffin

Offensive Coordinator

Marquise Ruffin will join the Trojans for 2024 as their offensive coordinator.  Coach Q was last at Norwich Free Academy where he was their OC.  Coach has an extensive background with other stops at St Bernard HS, Woonsocket HS and New London.  He will and will be a great addition to the offense.  

 

Matt Danko

Defensive Line Unit Leader

Matt Danko joined the staff in 2020 as our DL unit leader.  Matt played high school football in Southington where he served as a captain before going to play at Western New England where he was also selected as a captain...twice.  He gained experience coaching at Sheehan high school and his influence has made the defensive line one of the strongest units at SHS.  

 

Tim Fogarty

Outside Linebackers Unit Leader

Tim was an All State LB for the Trojans in 2004.  He went to Ithaca to play baseball and ended up back in Simsbury for his work.  Coach Fogarty has now been on the SHS Trojan staff since 2013 where he has filled many roles, including stints as the defensive coordinator. Coach Fogarty's insight and work ethic are a few reasons the Trojan defense continues to grow.  Coach lives with his wife, daughter and son in Simsbury.

 

Steve Hamel

RB Unit Leader - Run Game Coordinator/JV - Head Coach

Coach Hamel began coaching the Trojans in 2019 and has contributed to the best defense in program history in 2019 as a leader for the inside backers.  Coach Hamel will assume the unit leader position for the running backs on offense as well as the role of run game coordinator.   Coach Hamel graduated from Keene State and played his high school football as a Southington Blue Knight.  At Southington High School he was a state champion in 2013 & 2014, a two time All Conference OLB, defensive MVP and 2nd Team All State in 2014.

 

Christian Kaljulaid

OL Unit Leader - JV OC

Coach Kaljulaid ('13) was a standout offensive lineman for the Trojans.  He was selected to the All Conference Team as a sophomore, junior and in his senior year.  Coach was also named to the All Courant Team as a senior as well as a two year captain for the Trojans.  Coach Kaljulaid went on to excel at Union where he was a four year starter on their offensive line.  Coach served as an assistant in 2022 and took the reigns as the unit leader in 2023.  Coach is a true example of what it means to be a ROACH in the Simsbury Football Family.

 

Tim Talbot

Tim Talbot is an SHS Alumni ('17).  Coach was an outstanding lineman for the Trojans and went on to play OT at Stonehill College.  Coach Talbot is coming back to the Trojan football family for the 2024 season to assist with the offensive line.  

 

Ralph Gilliard

WR Unit Leader Asst.

Ralph Gilliard comes back to the Trojans as a coach after a record setting career as a player.  "Coach" Gilliard still holds many of the receiving records for SHS.  He was named to the Walter Camp All CT team as well as being selected to the Class LL All State team and 3 yrs as a CCC All Conference WR/DB.  Welcome back #13!

 

Harry Bellucci

Defensive Assistant

Coach Bellucci will join the Trojan football family as a varsity defensive assistant.  Coach is coming out of retirement after 20 years as the HC at Hartford Public High School with 42 years of experience coaching in Connecticut.  Multiple division titles and accolades under his belt.  Welcome Coach Bellucci to the Simsbury Football Family!!  

 

Paul Sullivan

DB Asst./Leadership Council Director

"Doc" Sullivan has been with the program for nine years and comes to us with coaching and playing experience at the college and high school levels.  He serves the Trojans as our "character coach" as well as an assistant to the defensive back units.  Coach Doc is actually a doctor and works with St Francis.  He lives in Simsbury with his wife and children. His son Daniel is a football family alumni who currently plays for Grove City College football.

 

TJ Silva

Frosh Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator

Coach Silva has been with the program for six years and is currently the frosh head coach.   His focus is the frosh program but he also serves as counsel for the JV and varsity programs as his experience as the head man for the SHS wrestling program is often needed.

Blair Zentek

DB Unit Leader/JV - DC 

Coach Zentek joined the football staff in 2019 and made significant contributions immediately to the defensive back position and wide outs.  He is a Plymouth State football standout and former All Conference player for the Trojans.  He will serve as the unit leader for the defensive backs.  He will also serve as the JV defensive coordinator.

 

Colby Chase

WR Unit Leader - JV Assistant 

Coach Colby Chase will begin his first year as a coach after playing four years as a Trojan.  Colby graduated in 2019 after a very successful run as a wideout in the program.  Coach Chase left Simsbury to play at Anna Marie in MA.  He returns to SHS and will run the wideout unit.

 

Robby Addis

Special Teams Coordinator/WR Asst.

Another former Trojan who joined the staff in 2020.  Coach Addis played at Simsbury making the CCC All Conference and All State teams as  a punter before heading to play college ball at Springfield College.  Coach Robby will serve as an assistant to the wide receivers and defensive backs but his major focus is to act as our special teams coordinator. Coach lives in Simsbury with his wife and children.

 

Sean Ritter

ILB Unit Leader/TE Asst.

Coach Ritter joined the staff in 2021.  Before coming to the Trojans Coach was the defensive coordinator at Enfield High School.  Coach also has experience as an HC and OC as well as coaching many positions prior to coming to CT from California.  Coach leads the ILB and unit and will continue to assist the TE unit.

 

Zack Gilbert

JV/Varsity Asst. - DB

Coach Zack Gilbert is a Trojan alumni ('20).  Zack was named to the 2019 CHSCA All State team as a WR.  He helped the Trojans win their first playoff game in school history and become a semifinalist in 2019.  He joined the staff and assist with the WR & DB units in 2023.

 

Michelle Wingfield

LB Asst./Defensive Analyst

Coach Wingfield joined the staff in 2022 after years of being on the sideline as one of our photographers.  Michelle assist with the JV and varsity linebackers and defensive line.  Coach Wingfield also acts as a defensive analyst. 

 

Managers

Summer Gildan & Lily Richards

 

Statistics

Craig Wilson

 

Bryan Forman

Film/Technology Director

 

Game Pictures

Scott Kerr

@skerrphotos