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The Buzzo era ends with a new job
Tommy Buzzo, 45, joined the coaching staff at Liberty in 1996 as an assistant to then-coach Joe Trabucco. He became the Eagles’ second-ever head coach in 2002, posting five 10-win seasons in his 10 years. Times-Democrat Staff Photo/Randy Litzinger
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Liberty Eagles head football coach Tommy Buzzo accepted an offer Friday afternoon (Jan. 13) to become the defensive coordinator at Central Connecticut State University next season.
Buzzo, 45, could leave the Liberty program as early as Friday (Jan. 20).
“He’s meant a great deal to the football program and Liberty High School in general,” Liberty activities director Mark Holmes said. “Football is something we’re proud of, and we owe him a great deal.”
Over 10 years as head coach, Buzzo amassed an 89-24 record. In 2002, he became the second head football coach at Liberty since the school opened in 1994. He previously served as an assistant coach for six seasons at Liberty under Joe Trabucco.
“It was a really good time for me to leave and accept a big challenge,” said Buzzo, who added that he received three other college coaching offers in the past. “This is coming at the right time to feed my ambition.”
“There’s mixed emotions because I love this school and love these kids and love this program,” he said.
Buzzo will leave for the Central Connecticut State (CCSU) campus in New Britain, Conn., after receiving a formal contract from CCSU human resources.
CCSU head coach Jeff McInerney met with Buzzo on Jan. 8 at the American Football Coaches Association National Convention in San Antonio, Buzzo said.
“It’s something he’s worked hard to get,” Holmes said. “It’s something he and I have talked about for years. I knew eventually it would happen.”
Buzzo informed Holmes of his decision to leave Liberty last Monday (Jan. 9), told his coaching staff Thursday and broke the news to his players Friday.
“I just talked to the kids and I’m about to fall apart,” he said late Friday afternoon. “What an emotional experience that was.”
Buzzo brought his players into the Liberty weight room after school to tell them about his decision. His announcement shocked junior defensive end Wyatt Teller.
“Totally caught off guard,” Teller said. “I was like, ‘Is this really happening?’ I was looking him right in the eyes and then I turned my head and I just busted into tears.”
“He’s helped me out so much that he’s like a second father to me,” Teller said. “Just think about losing your father. I mean, he’s still alive, but he’s gone [from Liberty]…. But I’m extremely happy for him. I’m not mad at him at all.”
Under Buzzo, the Liberty Eagles won consecutive Group AA Evergreen District championships in 2009 and 2010, and finished last season as the Group AA Region II runner-up with a 10-3 record. Liberty won the 2008 AAA Northwest Region Division 5 championship with a 10-3 record.
The Eagles never had a losing season under Buzzo and made six playoff appearences, in which they posted a 7-6 record.
“One of our goals is winning football games,” he said, “but we want to send out kids from our program to be better employees and bosses, and better dads for their kids. And that’s not lip service. I believe with my heart and soul that we’ve done that.”
Buzzo was twice named AA Northwestern District Coach of the Year and twice named AA Evergreen District Coach of the Year. He was selected as defensive coordinator of the East team in the 2011 Virginia High School League (VHSL) Coaches Association all-star game and was selected as head coach of the West team in the 2009 VHSL Coaches Association all-star game.
“I hate to see him go,” Holmes said. “I think I had the best football coach in the state of Virginia. But as a friend, I’m happy for Tommy.”
Buzzo has helped 22 Liberty players earn Division I scholarships since 2000.
“Every year, he’s always produced good players,” Teller said. “Without his help I couldn’t imagine where I’d be….He’s the greatest coach I’ve ever been under.”
Teller has 10 scholarship offers from D-I programs as a junior, so he will likely add to Buzzo’s legacy next season after the coach has already left Liberty.
“Tommy put so many hours into the job,” Holmes said. “He just works so hard at getting our kids opportunities to play at the next level. If it wasn’t for Tommy, some of those kids wouldn’t have had that opportunity.”
The most recent Liberty player to verbally accept a scholarship offer is Buzzo’s son, Travis. The senior committed to play football at CCSU next season. Buzzo said his son’s decision to attend CCSU had little effect on his decision to take the coordinator position, and vice versa.
“If this opportunity happened last year or the year before, there’s a real chance I would have taken it then,” Buzzo said. “It is a plus that Travis is going there, but it’s really not the [big] factor that people will think.”
CCSU is a member of the Northeast Conference in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, and it finished last season with a 4-7 record (3-5 conference).
Buzzo, 45, could leave the Liberty program as early as Friday (Jan. 20).
“He’s meant a great deal to the football program and Liberty High School in general,” Liberty activities director Mark Holmes said. “Football is something we’re proud of, and we owe him a great deal.”
Over 10 years as head coach, Buzzo amassed an 89-24 record. In 2002, he became the second head football coach at Liberty since the school opened in 1994. He previously served as an assistant coach for six seasons at Liberty under Joe Trabucco.
“It was a really good time for me to leave and accept a big challenge,” said Buzzo, who added that he received three other college coaching offers in the past. “This is coming at the right time to feed my ambition.”
“There’s mixed emotions because I love this school and love these kids and love this program,” he said.
Buzzo will leave for the Central Connecticut State (CCSU) campus in New Britain, Conn., after receiving a formal contract from CCSU human resources.
CCSU head coach Jeff McInerney met with Buzzo on Jan. 8 at the American Football Coaches Association National Convention in San Antonio, Buzzo said.
“It’s something he’s worked hard to get,” Holmes said. “It’s something he and I have talked about for years. I knew eventually it would happen.”
Buzzo informed Holmes of his decision to leave Liberty last Monday (Jan. 9), told his coaching staff Thursday and broke the news to his players Friday.
“I just talked to the kids and I’m about to fall apart,” he said late Friday afternoon. “What an emotional experience that was.”
Buzzo brought his players into the Liberty weight room after school to tell them about his decision. His announcement shocked junior defensive end Wyatt Teller.
“Totally caught off guard,” Teller said. “I was like, ‘Is this really happening?’ I was looking him right in the eyes and then I turned my head and I just busted into tears.”
“He’s helped me out so much that he’s like a second father to me,” Teller said. “Just think about losing your father. I mean, he’s still alive, but he’s gone [from Liberty]…. But I’m extremely happy for him. I’m not mad at him at all.”
Under Buzzo, the Liberty Eagles won consecutive Group AA Evergreen District championships in 2009 and 2010, and finished last season as the Group AA Region II runner-up with a 10-3 record. Liberty won the 2008 AAA Northwest Region Division 5 championship with a 10-3 record.
The Eagles never had a losing season under Buzzo and made six playoff appearences, in which they posted a 7-6 record.
“One of our goals is winning football games,” he said, “but we want to send out kids from our program to be better employees and bosses, and better dads for their kids. And that’s not lip service. I believe with my heart and soul that we’ve done that.”
Buzzo was twice named AA Northwestern District Coach of the Year and twice named AA Evergreen District Coach of the Year. He was selected as defensive coordinator of the East team in the 2011 Virginia High School League (VHSL) Coaches Association all-star game and was selected as head coach of the West team in the 2009 VHSL Coaches Association all-star game.
“I hate to see him go,” Holmes said. “I think I had the best football coach in the state of Virginia. But as a friend, I’m happy for Tommy.”
Buzzo has helped 22 Liberty players earn Division I scholarships since 2000.
“Every year, he’s always produced good players,” Teller said. “Without his help I couldn’t imagine where I’d be….He’s the greatest coach I’ve ever been under.”
Teller has 10 scholarship offers from D-I programs as a junior, so he will likely add to Buzzo’s legacy next season after the coach has already left Liberty.
“Tommy put so many hours into the job,” Holmes said. “He just works so hard at getting our kids opportunities to play at the next level. If it wasn’t for Tommy, some of those kids wouldn’t have had that opportunity.”
The most recent Liberty player to verbally accept a scholarship offer is Buzzo’s son, Travis. The senior committed to play football at CCSU next season. Buzzo said his son’s decision to attend CCSU had little effect on his decision to take the coordinator position, and vice versa.
“If this opportunity happened last year or the year before, there’s a real chance I would have taken it then,” Buzzo said. “It is a plus that Travis is going there, but it’s really not the [big] factor that people will think.”
CCSU is a member of the Northeast Conference in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, and it finished last season with a 4-7 record (3-5 conference).
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