Legendary St. Joes Coach Retires
After 50 years, 878 wins, and 11 state championships, Vito Montelli announced his retirement on Wednesday at a press conference in Vazzano’s Four Seasons in Stratford, Connecticut.
Montelli is walking away not only with his name cemented in the record books, but also at the pinnacle of the high school coaching ranks, having led St. Joseph’s to back to back state championships in 2011 and 2012.
The 80 year old head coach began on the job in 1963 and stayed on the sidelines through what turned out to be his final game in March, a 62-54 win over Hillhouse in the CIAC Class LL title game at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Wednesday’s press conference was attended by a variety of Montelli’s former players, dating all the way back to that 1963 team, in addition to a large number of family, friends, and media members.
Former St. Joseph’s player and longtime assistant coach Chris Watts, who has also spent several seasons coaching with the Connecticut Elite grassroots program, was named Montelli’s successor.