Pat Scelza is synonymous with Windsor Locks Football. As of the time of his induction into the Hall of Fame, he is the only head coach the football program has ever known. Pat started the football program at Windsor Locks High in 1970 and in 1972 it became an official varsity sport. Under his leadership, the team has won four league titles and finished second six times. In 2004 they qualified for the state playoffs, losing their final game to an outstanding Old Lyme team. Pat has coached ten All-State players, a College All American, an NFL player, and seven players who attended the service academies. Many more of his players went on to play Division III football. Along the way, Pat has collected numerous awards including coach of the year, the VFW Smalley Brothers Sportsman Award winner and has been recognized as a McDonald’s Sportsman. Pat’s excellence was recognized by the state of Connecticut when Governor Weicker declared October 15, 1995, Pat Scelza Day.
Pat enjoyed equal success as the softball coach at Windsor Locks High School for 18 years. His teams won six league titles and were the runner-up five times. While he was the coach, Windsor Locks made the quarterfinals of the state tournament nine times and he “retired” as a softball coach with a .760 winning percentage. Twelve of his softball players achieved all-state honors and many of his players went on to play college softball–an impressive record for a “football coach.”
For two generations of Windsor Locks athletes, Pat Scelza has been a constant: a tough but supportive, loyal coach instilling in his players the virtues of hard work and good sportsmanship.