Dave Schulz to be Inducted into FCIAC Hall of Fame at Annual Awards Reception Next Week

Dave Schulz made quite a name for himself during his days at Andrew Warde High School in the early 1970s. However, the current athletic director at cross-town rival Fairfield Ludlowe High School has fashioned an even more impressive resume as a coach and teacher in the Fairfield public school system for nearly 30 years.

As a result, Schulz, pictured below left with current Roger Ludlowe Middle School principal Glenn Mackno after leading the Warde boys' basketball team to the 1972-73 FCIAC East Division championship, will be among six new members to be inducted into the FCIAC Hall of Fame at the annual FCIAC Awards Reception next Tuesday evening, June 15, at 5:30 at Testo's Restaurant in Bridgeport.

"I am honored to be inducted into the FCIAC Hall of Fame, and to be included with so many outstanding coaches and administrators who are currently enshrined," Schulz told me via email yesterday from his office at Ludlowe High School. "The FCIAC is, without question, the premier league in the state, and my association with it has always been special to me."

Schulz coached boys basketball for 18 years at Fairfield High School. He led the Mustangs to 11 FCIAC tournament appearances, advancing to the final in 1993, while his teams qualified for the state tournament 17 times, reaching the semifinals in 1992. He was honored by his peers as the FCIAC Coach of the Year six times and as the Connecticut High School Coaches' Association Coach of the Year in 2008.

"I was very fortunate to be able to coach in Fairfield for 27 years, and for most of those years to have coached with (the late) Walter Fitzgerald," added Schulz, who is completing his sixth-year as athletic director at Fairfield Ludlowe High School and whose Falcons' baseball team captured its first-ever FCIAC baseball championship this Spring.

"I believe we were able to instill a work ethic in our players which hopefully carried over to the rest of their lives. Seeing the improvement and confidence build in our players makes coaching very rewarding. Being named Athletic Director and then starting a new school and athletic program from scratch has also been very rewarding to me."

A member of the FCIAC Board of Directors since 1989, Schulz was the FCIAC president from 1996-98 and is currently second vice president. He developed and continues to facilitate the FCIAC scholar-athlete program, which honors a student-athlete from each team at all 19 member schools.

Schulz has fond memories of his days at Warde. "Playing basketball at Andrew Warde for Coach (Ed) Bengermino and how we grew together as a team to have a wonderful senior season will always stay with me," admitted Schulz, pictured above in a 1972-73 basketball game at the Melville Avenue high school.

"Working in the school system with Mike Abraham (above left) and Glenn Mackno (above right) for the past 32 years gives us the opportunity to always reminisce!"

Paul