Popular A.D., Baseball Coach In Conn. Dismissed, Unsure Of Reason Why

Montville — Parents, students, alumni and colleagues rallied around Bill Buscetto throughout Wednesday, after learning the St. Bernard School’s athletic director and baseball coach has been dismissed from both positions.

Parents Matt Greene and Glen Aldrich and 2010 St. Bernard graduate Ashley Walenta have a meeting planned Friday with St. Bernard superintendent of schools John Shine in an effort to reinstate Buscetto. Several more supporters are expected to attend.

More than 100 supporters gathered Tuesday night on Buscetto’s behalf at Filomena’s Restaurant in Waterford.

“What he’s done for the school has been absolutely amazing,” said Dawn Londregan, a member of the alumni association. “He poured his heart and soul into that school. I know Bill as a parent, as a coach and through the (alumni association). He’s been a very generous donor.”

Jim Leone, Buscetto’s assistant coach and a teacher at St. Bernard for 32 years, said he has known and liked Buscetto from the time he was a student at St. Bernard.

“I enjoyed my time coaching with him very, very much,” Leone said in a telephone conversation from Italy, where he is vacationing.

Buscetto wrote in an email to The Day on Wednesday that he was “shocked” at the decision to dismiss him.

“I had no warning whatsoever that this was happening,” Buscetto wrote. “Everything I did was always with the best interests of the children and the St. Bernard community.”

Sources in the school said Buscetto’s dismissal was a by-product of a personality conflict with outgoing headmaster William McKenna. The sources said McKenna has bristled at, among other issues, the pointed emails Buscetto sent to parents of the baseball team and how Buscetto oversaw improvements in athletics fields without proper permission.

Buscetto’s supporters say that Buscetto used his own money to repair and enhance the fields.

Attempts to reach McKenna, who is retiring at the end of the month, were unsuccessful.

Michael Strammiello, director of communications for the Diocese of Norwich, said Buscetto is “no longer employed” by the school. He said the diocese had no further comment because the decision was a “personnel issue.”

Buscetto alienated some baseball parents with emails that strongly suggested they mind their own business.

“He played favorites,” said one parent, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal against his son. “He doesn’t treat people well. What goes around comes around.”

A 1991 St. Bernard graduate who is a member of the school’s athletic hall of fame and whose children are both members of the athletic program, Buscetto led the baseball team to the Eastern Connecticut Conference Small Division baseball championship and to the finals of the ECC tournament this spring. He led them to the Class S state finals in 2008.

Under his direction, the athletic department was awarded the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Michael’s Cup in Class S for the 2009-10 school year. That award was based on St. Bernard providing “exemplary programs,” including athletic participation, academic success, trained and professional personnel and sportsmanship, as well as athletic achievement.

Buscetto also received letters of support from colleagues throughout Connecticut. Fred Balsamo, the head of the Connecticut Association of Athletic Directors, wrote on Buscetto’s behalf as did John Fontana, head of the Connecticut High School Coaches Association.

“Bill did a very good job as head of our advisory board,” said outgoing Ledyard High School athletic director Peter Vincent, alluding to Buscetto’s post as spokesperson for the league’s athletic directors. “Whenever an issue came up, he always handled it well.”