NHS Announces New Football Coach

The Newington High School Athletic Department announced they are hiring John Acquavita as the next head football coach. Acquavita replaces Jason Pace, who coached the program the previous six seasons. 

Acquavita comes to Newington with a wealth of experience, coaching for more than a quarter-century and spending the last 15 years at Wilbur Cross High School where he was named the Connecticut High School Associations Coach of the Year in 2014 and was a finalist for the National High School Associations Head Coach of the Year in 2018. 

Prior to Wilbur Cross, Acquavita was at Hyde High School where he won three state championships (2000, 2004, and 2005).

​NHS’s Director of Athletics Chris Meyers said in a statement, “Through the interview process, Coach Acquavita communicated a high level of football knowledge, but most importantly a passion for leading high school student athletes. He has coached many high level players, but emphasized the important role football can play in the lives of any skill level player. His knowledge, high energy, and enthusiasm to motivate student athletes separated him as the best candidate for the position and we are excited for him to lead Newington football.”