Nemergut, Steve

Steve Nemergut was a shy, quiet skinny boy, who loved basketball. However, because of health problems, he was not able to play the game.

Steve’s father, nicknamed “The Rabbit,” played basketball and baseball for the Bridgeport Springwoods. Years later, Steve attended Notre Dame Catholic High School (Bridgeport) where he observed legendary coach, Alvin Clinkscales, performing his coaching magic. Those observations increased Steve’s passion for the game. However, the greatest encouragement to get involved in coaching came from a friend and mentor, Bob “Big Red” Wallace. Wallace was a parish coach of basketball and baseball, who allowed Steve to be his assistant coach. The rest is history.

Steve graduated from Fairfield University in 1967 and began teaching science at Saint Andrew’s in Bridgeport where he was also head coach of the boys’ basketball and baseball teams. Steve ultimately realized that teaching and coaching were “one and the same.”

In 1977, Nemergut began coaching girls’ basketball, at Notre Dame Catholic High School (now in Fairfield). His team won the regular season and first MBIAC playoff tournament and Steve was named the first MBIAC Coach of the year. He credits three outstanding players – Mary Ellen McManus, Sheila Foley, and Mary Pat Gaughan – for much of that team’s success.

In 1978, Nemergut began teaching biology and geometry at Notre Dame – his alma mater. In 1984, Steve married Mary Ann Braun, who became his assistant coach. In 1988, he was selected as the Connecticut Post Coach of the Year as his team again won the league championship and advanced to the CIAC State Finals.

Steve is very proud of the many outstanding players he coached. Two of them – Ellen Grosso and Patrina Blow -- were honored as All-Staters. Alison Martinsky continued her education at Fairfield University and played professionally in Europe. Thirteen of Steve’s players received college scholarships.

During Nemergut’s thirteen years of coaching (1977 – 1989), his Notre Dame teams compiled an overall record of 227-44 and nine league championships. The Lancers qualified for the state tournament each year Steve coached and advanced to the State Tournament finals in 1987, 1988, and 1989.

Steve retired from coaching basketball in 1989.