WOODBURY — An outstanding coach is one who makes athletes work harder than they ever have before. Nonnewaug wrestling coach Dave Green embodies that definition.
“[Green is] a great person that makes you work and strive to be the best,” said Jack Ringeisen, a junior wrestler at Nonnewaug. “He makes you a better wrestler by pushing you to go to the gym in the offseason, getting on the mat, [and] showing exactly what to do.”
Green’s work ethic, leadership, and helpfulness for students and athletes make Nonnewaug students think great things about Green, a longtime wellness teacher.
Before Green was a teacher and a coach, he grew up in New Jersey. Green later went to Springfield College to wrestle and earn a degree in physical education. After coaching wrestling at Springfield for two years, he moved to Connecticut and started teaching.
He taught at Slade Middle School in New Britain and was an assistant wrestling coach at Pomperaug before finding his job “in the sticks” at Nonnewaug, where he realized that this school parallels the way he grew up.
“I went to a regional school; this is a regional school,” Green said. “[Green’s high school] has an agriscience program; Nonnewaug has an agriscience program. The school was in the middle of the sticks; Nonnewaug is in the middle of the sticks. It was easy [coming to Nonnewaug]. It just made sense.”
When an assistant coaching position at Nonnewaug wrestling opened after teaching here for a year, he jumped at the chance to join the successful program.
“I was already here and it just made sense,” Green said.
Green has his home now, where he enjoys his time with the wrestling team and his students.
“I love [coaching wrestling],” Green said. “I like seeing the students in a different space where they can measure their growth.”
Toby Denman, a 22-year science teacher at Nonnewaug, has worked with Green throughout his career. He describes Green as “the conscience of Nonnewaug. He stands for what’s right and wrong. He is a leader.”
Green is always there for his colleagues, wrestlers, and students. He shows leadership that stands out to those at Nonnewaug.
“Green is up for anything,” said Chris York, the science department chairperson at Nonnewaug. “You ask him to go on a bike ride, he will. He doesn’t play golf, but If he did, he would go anytime.”
Nonnewaug students value Green for his easygoing and supportive nature.
“I love Mr. Green,” sophomore Brady Herman said. “I would be in the weight room after school and he is easy to talk to and just a genuine guy.”
