Image courtesy of New Canaan Football

Legendary New Canaan Coach Lou Marinelli was named the 2024 National High School Athletic Coaches Association Football Coach of the Year. 

Marinelli was one of eight finalists for the award. He received the award during a ceremony on Wednesday night at the NHSACA convention in Bismarck, North Dakota.

It is the first time Marinelli has won the award but he has been a finalist for the award four times, including in 2007, 2010 and 2016. 

Marinelli is Connecticut’s all-time winningest coach with a record of 393-113-7. His record at New Canaan is 374-106-6 since taking over in 1981.

During that span, Marinelli has won 14 state tiles including going back to back the last two years in Class L. The Rams defeated Maloney 16-13 in 2022, and came from behind to defeat rival Darien 28-21 in a classic last season. 

Congratulations to Coach Marinelli, one of the greatest high school coaches in Connecticut and New England High School Football history.