WOODBURY – When you think of contributions to Nonnewaug High School, you may first think of the administrators who keep everyone in check, or the custodians who work day and night to keep our school clean. But what people don’t think about too often, are the elective teachers and sports coaches who make so many fun and meaningful experiences in this community possible. 

Nonnewaug High School wellness instructor and longtime golf coach Ryan Campanario has contributed more to these two programs than most people can see. 

Campanario or “Mr. Camp” as most people know him, has been coaching the golf team at Nonnewaug High School for 10 years. Many say he has been Nonnewaug’s most accomplished golf coach throughout the history of the program. 

Within the Campanario era, he has led Nonnewaug to many state championship appearances, and most recently a Berkshire League title this past fall. 

Among these many accomplishments that Campanario has accumulated over the years, one of the biggest may just be how he was able to grow the program and extend it to more players than ever before, a testament to Campanario’s magnetism and ability to share his love for the game. 

“When I first started coaching around 10 years ago, we were lucky if we could get over 7 guys on the team,” Campanario said. “Now, we easily can get over 15-20 kids to sign up every year to play and practice on the team.”

Growing the program from just 7 to over 20 players on the Nonnewaug golf team over the years is an accomplishment that needs to be recognized. Ryan Campanario single-handedly made Nonnewaug Golf what it is today. 

Without ‘Camp’, there may not even be a golf team let alone a successful one. 

In the midst of coaching this golf team in the afternoons, Ryan Campanario spends his mornings helping kids become better versions of themselves in the classroom and in the gym. 

Many students will say that “Camp” is their favorite teacher in the school because of his personality attributes that make him that personable teacher that anyone can go to in times of need. 

Golf team member and senior at Nonnewaug Jack Nettleton, among many other students here at Nonnewaug, feel that Campanario is a teacher that you can go to with almost anything. 

“He’s just a super personable and relatable guy,” Nettleton said. “I feel like I can go to him with almost anything that may be troubling me and he’s always there to help out.”

‘Camp’s’ compassionate personality attributes make him someone that people feel like they can trust. This not only applies to kids in school but also bleeds over back to his coaching roots as well.  

Campanario’s golf team members have always felt connected with him not only as a coach, but as a person. 

“He’s always asking how we’re doing and how our families are doing to make sure that we’re doing well at all times,” Nettleton said. “It shows that he truly cares about others more than just on a coaching level, but on a personal level too.”

This personal connection between Campanario and his players may have been what led them to winning their first ever Berkshire League title in school program history. 

“I think us being so close with ‘Camp’ has helped us in the long run,” Nettleton said. “We can be real with him when our game feels like crap, and he can be real with us when there’s something that we need to be doing as a team that we may have not been at the time.”

‘Camp’s’ critical combination of personability and positivity is the primary factor that helped him drive the program–and students in his classroom– to the next level. 

“I always try to point out the positives on the golf course and in the classroom,” Campanario said. “Hit a bad shot in a match? It’s alright, rebound on the next one. Get a bad grade on a test in the classroom? It’s alright, rebound on the next one.”

Campanario will always be that positive, easygoing guy that you can trust to help you in the classroom and on the golf course.  

Fall 2025 was Campanario’s last year coaching the golf team, a decision that he made with great difficulty, walking away from the program to dedicate more time to his family. In the future, he aims to stay in touch with his former players and continue to be that role model that is always there when they need help. 

As for the classroom, Campanario will continue to push kids to be the best version of themselves that they can be and be that teacher that anyone can go to in times of need. As the result of the lifelong relationships Campanario has built with his students and athletes, one thing is for certain: he will always be in their camp.