From the Notre Dame athletic office:

After 66 wins, 10 all-state players, six winning seasons, one state championship and countless memories while at the helm of the Notre Dame of West Haven football program, head coach John DeCaprio , Jr. announced his retirement after 10 seasons.

DeCaprio, who led Notre Dame to the 2002 state championship by defeating then top-ranked Fitch 35-14 in his third year as head coach after taking over for long-time head coach Tom Marcucci, guided Notre Dame to a 4-6 record this past winter, culminating with a 10-7 upset win over Hamden in the 58th Green Bowl on Thanksgiving morning.

“This was a decision my family and I made this summer,” said DeCaprio, who started his Notre Dame coaching career in the fall of 1987. “But, I wanted this season to be about the 2008 Notre Dame football team so I waited until after the Green Bowl to make this public. In coaching, it’s always about the kids and I wanted to be sure this year was no different.”

DeCaprio officially informed the team on the field immediately following the Green Knights win over Hamden on Thanksgiving. “It was just the right moment,” said DeCaprio, as he was watching film of the Green Bowl in his office Monday afternoon. “Those closest to me knew in August, and as the season unfolded, there was never a good time to let the world know. After an emotional win, it just felt right to tell the kids at that moment.”

DeCaprio added, “To be able to walk off the field with an upset win in the Green Bowl with sons by my side is a memory I’ll never forget.” His oldest son, Michael, was a senior captain this season, while his younger son, Matthew, is currently a sophomore.

Notre Dame won four of its final six games after starting the season with four consecutive losses. Notre Dame was competitive in the tough SCC suffering heartbreaking losses in the game’s final three minutes to Fairfield Prep (8-7), Xavier (21-14) and Cross (10-7) while also having a furious rally fall short in a 37-35 setback to Amity.

In his 10 years at Notre Dame, DeCaprio’s teams compiled a 66-38 (.635 winning percentage) overall record. In addition to going 11-1 and winning the Class L title in 2002, DeCaprio led Notre Dame to non-losing seasons in eight of his ten seasons. Notre Dame finished 9-1 in 2000, missing the LL play-off field by a scant five points. Notre Dame finished 8-3 in 2002 and just outside the Class L playoff field.

“I’ve coached a lot of great teams and great players,” said DeCaprio. “It’s unfair to single any of them out but I am extremely grateful to this year’s team. We talked about brotherhood, commitment and loyalty all year. The season didn’t go as we had hoped but this team never quit and put its heart and soul into beating Hamden . The kids wanted to practice outside in the freezing rain. They watched film after practice. They prepared the same way the state championship team did and that speaks volumes about a group of kids that didn’t quit on themselves or the coaching staff. To see them perform like they did Thanksgiving Day was a special feeling and one I hope they will remember for a lifetime.”

“John DeCaprio was the right man at the right time for the Notre Dame football program,” said Athletic Director Tom Marcucci ’66. “He continued our winning tradition. He did it with class, character and a tremendous work ethic. In many ways, football and winning were secondary to getting the most out of his players and making them better people through discipline and hard work and that is a trademark of Notre Dame teams.”

“I appreciate everything John DeCaprio has done for our football program and players for the last 10 years,” said Notre Dame President Br. James Branigan, C.S.C. “He has maintained our strong football tradition and, most importantly, brought the values of our school to the field of play every day. He helped transform our student-athletes into young men of character, ready to challenge themselves in all facets of life.”

“I want to thank Br. James Branigan, Tom Marcucci, and Joe Tonelli as well as all the players and parents for allowing me to have 10 wonderful years leading the Notre Dame football program,” concluded DeCaprio. “I also had a tremendously loyal coaching staff that always made my job easier. I can’t thank them enough for their dedication to Notre Dame football in my tenure.”