By Andy Hutchison

WESTPORT — Success in sports is often measured by wins, losses and, of course, championships.

For Matty Jacowleff, newly appointed head coach of the Staples High football team, it is fair to say achievements for his squad are a balance of on-field wins and off-the-field accomplishment.

“I think our success hinges less on having good athletes and more on having great human beings with strong character who buy in to what we are trying to achieve,” said Jacowleff, adding that at the end of the day high school football is about the student-athletes.

New Wreckers head football coach Matty Jacowleff

“They will be the reason why they are successful. My main focus is trying to give them the opportunity to live out their potential and become the best version of themselves.”

The Wrecker program’s stated mission is 4 for 50: “When a player gives us 4 years of commitment, we want to be able to equip them with skills to help them achieve 50 years of life excellence,” he said.

A Staples son comes home to lead the way

Jacowleff has already put his 4 years, and a handful more, in with the Staples program. He played football for Staples from 2011-14 as a linebacker leading to this full circle Staples football moment.

The new team leader was named captain of the 2014 team and said he learned a tremendous amount about leadership from legendary Wreckers coaches such as Marce Petroccio, Bryan Hoctor, Mac Devito and Lew Socci. He started coaching with the Wreckers during his senior year in college in 2019.

“I felt my calling on earth was to help other people, and I thought there’s no better place to do that than in my hometown, in the community I love so much and for a school I love so much,” he said.

He has served in numerous capacities at Staples, including associate head coach, offensive coordinator, wide receiver coach, defensive backs coach and head junior varsity coach.

Justin Halky, a wide receiver and defensive back, who will be a senior captain on the football team in the fall, has played under the direction of Jacowleff since eighth grade PAL lacrosse.

“He builds a personal connection with all his players,” he said.

In addition to his contributions to the football program, Jacowleff is an assistant coach with the boys lacrosse program and is a familiar face at many Staples athletic events when he is not on the field. Taking the reins with the Wrecker gridders is particularly meaningful for Jacowleff.

“It is the greatest honor of my life to have the opportunity to lead such a special program at a place as meaningful to me as Staples High School,” he said. “The success of our program is a reflection of the hard work and sacrifice of so many players who have worn the Staples ‘S.’”

Passion in the classroom as well as on the field

A proud 2015 graduate of Staples, Jacowleff went on to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Northeastern University, followed by a Master of Arts in Secondary Education from Fairfield University.

He is a full-time special education teacher at Staples, teaching a class called Study Skills. His role allows him to manage a case load of 14 students to support them in their academic and holistic development. He gives daily lessons on life and school skills such as how to take notes, how to create a daily planner and curate emails, how to appropriately communicate with teachers, and how to respond to failure.

“I really view my job as ‘coaching academics’ within the school,” he said. “I have cherished the opportunity to extend my reach past the field and our football and lacrosse teams to the general Staples community.”

His classroom is filled with Staples football memorabilia, such as the championship rings and framed photos of the program’s most historic moments that the students love to see when they walk in.

“I believe it helps build a strong bond between the school and our program,” he said. “I truly love what I do on a daily basis. It gives me so much purpose and fulfillment in my life. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

During free time Jacowleff enjoys playing golf, listening to Eric Church and hanging out with his English Bulldog — appropriately for a football guru — named Blitz.

Looking forward to the future, and another championship

Jacowleff succeeds Adam Behrends, who earlier this year left for a coaching position at the University of New Mexico.

Jacowleff said that even during the uncertainty after Behrends left, the entire staff continued meeting in order to prepare for the next season, organizing events for the team, continuing with lifts, conducting player meetings, and anything else the staff felt was important to preserving the health of our program.

“We really felt strongly that the kids needed structure and guidance,” he said. “Whether I got the job or not, I wanted to do the right thing by our kids.”

Staples Athletic Director V.J. Sarullo said he was excited to announce “Coach Matty” as the new head football coach.

“As a lifelong Wrecker, Coach Matty exhibits great pride for the community, school, program and student-athletes,” he said. “Throughout the interview process, [he] communicated a clear vision for the future of the program, ensuring continued success both on and off the field.”

The Wreckers will continue preparing during the spring and summer and gear up for a loaded schedule in the fall with tremendous competition from in and out of the FCIAC alike. Staples will host West Haven, New Canaan, St. Joseph of Trumbull, Wilton and Stamford. On the road, the Wreckers will travel to Glastonbury, Darien, Greenwich and Fairfield’s two high schools, Ludlowe and Warde.

One of the objectives of the program is to be the best in the state and the Wreckers most recently accomplished in 2023 with a Class LL State title. The rest of the coaching staff will remain in place, giving the Wreckers lots of continuity.

“We embrace the challenge of a difficult schedule,” he said. “That is what our program is all about. We want to be tested; we want to be put in positions where resilience is the only option. I look forward to competing against these tremendous programs.

Andy Hutchison has been covering school sports — including Staples athletics — as well as news and feature stories in Fairfield County, since the 1990s.