He may be a graduate of Bristol Central High School, but Mike Giovinazzo will be forever associated with Bristol Eastern.
Giovinazzo has been a coach and mentor to student-athletes as a baseball and basketball coach with the Lancers for many spring and winter seasons. This year is his 34th as head basketball coach, baseball will be his 42nd. He has led league champions, and he has led state champions.
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| Another teaching moment for CHSCA Hall of Fame coach Mike Giovinazzo, left, who is in his 34th season at the helm of Bristol Eastern boys basketball. |
Last year, Giovinazzo received a huge honor when he was elected to the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
“Any time you join a select group of coaches like that, it’s an honor,” Giovinazzo said after coaching the Bristol Eastern boys basketball team on Saturday against Glastonbury.
Giovinazzo said he was contacted about the award last summer. He was honored on the field at halftime of the UConn-Navy football game on Sept. 26 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, along with fellow coaches Theresa Napolitano, George Suitor, George Beaudry (posthumuously), Michael J. Fritch, Gerry Chester, athletic director/coach John Capone, athletic director/coach David E. Schultz, former CAS-CIAC executive director Michael H. Savage and media member George DeMaio Jr.
“I’m extremely humbled and I’m extremely proud to be a part of it because there are some legends in there,” Giovinazzo said.
A banquet was held in November at the AquaTurf in Southington.
Giovinazzo has accumulated over 500 wins as baseball coach and over 300 as basketball coach. For that success, he joined a very accomplished and select group, and he more than earned his place.
