Strong, David

Dave Strong began his career at Masuk High School in Monroe. He coached boys’ basketball and taught math. He began coaching girls in 1976 and his teams compiled an incredible list of accomplishments.

Strong holds the CT record for total wins in girls’ basketball (680). He was the first girls’ high school coach in the state to record 300 wins, 400 wins…600 wins. He has compiled an overall record of 680-135 in the 33 years he has coached the Masuk girls. His teams won 19 league championships, qualified for the league playoffs and the State Tournament all 33 years, have been State Champs three times, State Runners-Up four times, and State Semi-Finalists 11 times.

Seven of Strong’s teams were undefeated during the regular season and two were undefeated State Champions (‘89-’90, ‘94-’95). From 1994-1996, his teams had a 50-game winning streak (6th best in state history) and his 1993-1997 teams compiled a 93-game regular season winning streak.

Strong was recognized many times during his coaching career. Some of his basketball awards include: C.H.S.C.A Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year (1982); District 1 Coach of the Year (1984, 1988, 1996, 1999, 2002); Danbury News-Times (1988,1991), New Haven Register (1990), and CT Post Coach of the Year Girls’ Basketball (1990,2001); C.H.S.C.A. Hall of Fame Inductee (2000); New England Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee (2002); and National Coach of the Year (2002), and the National High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2009. Strong also coached numerous postseason All-Star teams including the Shoot-Out, the J.C.C. Classic, and the Vincent Smeraglinolo All-Star Games.