Fifty years is nearly a lifetime to some, but for North Haven’s Ray Ciarleglio, Sr., that span doesn’t even cover his entire coaching career. Ray has coached in some capacity since 1963, when he started as an assistant with the football, basketball, and baseball squads at Notre Dame-West Haven. Fifty-two years and eight schools later, Ray is still at it as he’s currently the quarterback/defensive backs coach for North Haven football.

“I do it because of the kids. I love the kids. I love the interaction with them. I love everything about it,” says Ray, whose been with the Indians since 1997. “Plus, what else would I do? There’s nothing else do to. I’m 75. What else am I going to do? I like to fool around, joke around, and it’s just a tremendous thing. I’ve done it all my life and I don’t feel old. I just don’t because it keeps me young, being with them.”

Ray stays active while working with the young up-and-comers who compete for the Indians, who’ve put together a tremendous run of success through the past decade with numerous division titles and playoff appearances. Prior to joining North Haven, Ray worked with Indians’ Head Coach Anthony Sagnella at North Branford and was named the state’s Assistant Coach of the Year in 1993. According to Sagnella, Ray has proved a highly influential member of his staffs for the past two-plus decades.

“There isn’t really a title for what he does, but for my career as a head coach, which spans from 1993 until now, he’s been an advisory,” says Sagnella. “I used to jokingly call him Mr. Miyagi from The Karate Kid. He was the old, wise man to give me the wisdom that I didn’t have in my late 20s and early 30s as a head coach. He’s probably served in every capacity for me as a fatherly figure at times, like an uncle, a big brother, and friend. I’ve been very blessed to have him.”

As a high school athlete, Ray was a three-sport captain at Notre Dame who collected All-District, All-State, and All-American accolades for the Green Knights’ football team. He also earned the Compania Club (Joe DeGale) Award, Gridiron Club Award, Dante Club Award, Morro Award, Savitt Award, was Athlete of the Year, and voted MVP of the Nutmeg Bowl in 1959.

Ray went on to play quarterback at Southern Connecticut State University and made the All-East and Small College All-American Team in his junior year. But even with everything Ray accomplished on the football field, baseball was actually his first love and he also starred in that sport at Southern Connecticut. Ray never hit less than .410 and led the Owls in hits, RBI, and home runs for three-consecutive seasons.

“I led the team in every department,” says Ray. “I played, was captain, and led the team in everything.”

Ray’s accomplishments provided him an opportunity at the big leagues when Billy Martin gave Ray the chance to play with the Twins after the franchise relocated from Washington to Minnesota.

“I went to Minnesota and played for a month, working out with the parent club, but I was married with a child, so I didn’t pursue it to any great degree,” says Ray. “It was a great opportunity. It was tremendous. I played with Harmon Killebrew and a lot of great players on the Minnesota team. I was out there with them and it was a tremendous experience with them.”

Ray then began his coaching career in 1963 and spent time at Notre Dame, Derby, and Law, after which he finally got his shot as a head coach at Central Catholic High School in Norwalk in 1971. He went 19-9-1 before leaving in 1973 to take over as the football and baseball coach with the Lawmen. Ray was a winner with both clubs by going 23-7 in football and 29-25 with the baseball team. His time on the gridiron was highlighted by a win against top-ranked West Haven in 1977. Ray’s head coaching career wrapped up at Shelton and he finished with a record of 60-36-2 in his eight years at the helm of those three programs.

Ray’s passion for mentoring athletes continues to keep him heavily involved in sports and that’s turned out to be a gift for the North Haven football team as Ray does everything in his power to help the Indians win.

“I coach them the way I would want to be coached and I give them all the knowledge I have of the game. I try to impact them with the enthusiasm I have for the game,” says Ray. “I try to get that across to them because there’s nothing I like better to do than to win. I hate to lose. I’m not a good loser. I’m gracious as a loser, but it doesn’t sit well with me. I don’t make excuses. I just don’t like it.”