Russo, Joe

In his thirty one year coaching career at New Fairfield High School, Joe Russo compiled a 392- 290 win/loss record. His teams qualified for the CIAC State Basketball Tournament 23 times, including 19 years in a row.

In 1991, Joe Russo's New Fairfield High School Girls’ Basketball Team won the CIAC Class M State Championship. They then repeated this in 1992. In fact, Joe's teams appeared in the CIAC tournament finals in 1990, '91, '92, and '99.

With Joe Russo at the helm, New Fairfield High School captured the Southwest Conference Title in 1999, were Southwest Conference Patriot Division Champions in 1997, '99, and 2000, and Western Connecticut Conference Division Champions in 1983, '91, and '92. Russo's teams posted eight 20-win seasons.

In 1998, Joe Russo received the Connecticut Board of Certified Basketball Officials' Sportsmanship Award. Also in 1998, Joe received the Gatorade Connecticut High School Coaches' Association Outstanding Coach of the Year Award.

In both 1990 and 1999, Joe Russo was named News Times Coach of the Year. In 2003, New Fairfield inducted Joe Russo into its Hall of Fame.

Russo has coached post-season All-Star Teams, including the J.C.C. Classic and the Connecticut High School Senior All-Star Game.

Joe Russo is in his 37th year teaching Physical Education at New Fairfield High.