NHS Gets New Track Course

Newtown High School hired David Warren as their new track and field coach in early November.

Warren takes over as head coach for both the girls' and boys' teams. Warren has had over 18 years of coaching experience at various levels and sports, but has moved to coaching at NHS this year. 

He has coached youth football for 13 years and coached high school track for six years. Warren was most recently an assistant track and field coach at Saint Joseph’s High School for the last 5 years. 

The head track coach position opened after the previous coach, Nick Fraticelli, moved to coaching at Ridgefield High School, so Warren took this opportunity and started going in for interviews with the athletic director, Matt Memoli. 

“The head girls track coach at St Joseph's knew I just moved to town and that a position opened up here. I applied, and the first interview with the AD went well so he called me in for another one, and ended up offering me the position,” Warren said.

“We are very fortunate to have Coach Warren on our staff. He brings a ton of experience to Newtown High school as a former assistant coach at Saint Joseph’s. As a two sport athlete in college, Coach will bring not only his experience as an athlete, but also as a coach and a mentor to our student athletes,” Memoli said after hiring Warren.

In addition to many years of coaching experience, Warren has also had a strong background as a former high school and collegiate athlete. 

“When I was an athlete in high school I played basketball, I ran track, and I played football. Then towards my junior and senior year I just focused on football and track, and really fell in love with football,” Warren said. “I ended up getting recruited to play at Southern Connecticut State University. I played corner there, and it wasn’t until my junior year I really missed track. I started to do track again which was an awesome experience.” 

After graduating from Southern, Warren started his career teaching in the elementary classroom setting, and is now working as the Director of Special Education. After having his first son, Warren decided to get into coaching. 

“When I had my son I was able to get into football again. As I coached football, I started working with athletes more, working on speed, conditioning, and getting them prepped in the off season. Then eventually I was an assistant track coach in West Haven for a couple of years and then I became an assistant track coach at Saint Joseph's more recently for the last five years before I came here,” Warren said.

Warren has some ideas and plans on how he wants to run the program this year, such as starting a podcast, going to the weight room, and making sure everyone on the team feels connected. Warren’s coaching style focuses on energy, excitement, and creating a good culture and family within the team. 

“Something I also really press upon the athletes is that it's bigger than track. So I try to do a lot of things outside of track, media day, starting the podcast, and those little things like that brings people closer,” Warren said.

“I like how he wants to bring the team more together  and I think that's what we needed on the team,” NHS junior Brynn Lozer said when asked about Warren’s coaching style.

Track and Field is a large program at NHS with the girls team having around 100 athletes and the boys having around 60 athletes last spring, according to the NHS Athletic Director Matt Memoli.

Last indoor track season the girls team were the SWC champions. Both the girls and boys teams have been thriving over the years, and with Coach Warren the teams hope to remain successful.

For many students track is a sport where they can focus on themselves, but also be a part of a bigger team, which is something Warren emphasises. 

“I think track is a very competitive sport and it helps all of the athletes come together and compete as one,” NHS sophomore Summer Chaljub said. 

The first indoor meets for both boys and girls teams will start in mid-December, but the pre-season training and practices have already been starting up. “I’m very excited for track to start. I’m looking forward to being in a good community with all of my friends and putting some work in,” NHS sophomore Kylie Mackenzie said.

“I think that the coach is really good, I like how he wants to bring the team more together, like make it like a family, and I think that's kinda what we needed on the team,” NHS junior Brynn Lozer said.