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04/14/2016 12:00 AMStephen Malafronte began his high school coaching career right out of college and his seven years of experience as an assistant between Shelton and Branford have him ready for his first season as head coach of Hornets’ baseball.
In his first year teaching at Shelton High School, Stephen was thrust into the role of freshman soccer coach in the fall and then coached middle school basketball that winter before coaching the freshman baseball team the following spring.
“I’ve been around sports my whole life, playing childhood ball. The first day I went into teaching, the AD asked if I had any experience. When I said I played, he said I was his coach,” says Stephen. “I was just thrown into the mix. Then the middle school basketball job came open and he asked again. Then I was asked to jump on board with the Gaels’ freshman baseball program.”
Following two years coaching at Shelton, Stephen was approached by George Dummar, Jr., to join the Branford baseball program as its freshman coach.
“George had asked me after my first year of coaching in Shelton, but I just got my feet in and had a good season with the team I had. Eventually, my freshman class won a state championship,” says Stephen, who went to high school at St. Joseph in Trumbull. “I taught in Shelton, but after my second season, George asked me again. It was no-brainer. I live in Branford, so I can be around my kids and be around everything close to home. That made it easier on me.”
After coming to Branford to coach, Stephen spent two seasons as the freshman skipper and three at the helm of the JV squad before getting promoted to varsity this spring. Stephen still teaches in Shelton, but recently stopped coaching soccer and basketball there to focus on leading Branford’s baseball program.
“George Dummar brought him on as a freshman coach and he moved up when [Stephen’s predecessor Ed Bethke] got the [head coach’s job], so he’s been in our program for five years, has a great rapport with our guys, so it was a no-brainer,” Branford Athletic Director Jake Palluzzi says. “The continuity is the key because he put his time in. How do you not take a guy like that, that put his time in with the youth leagues, knows how important it is to develop that program, was in the program for many years, and a freshman coach under George Dummar. We thought it would be a great transition for everybody and a lot of the kids loved the way he handled things, so they were behind this move, too. The community and the players were behind this, so that’s always a good thing.”
The fact that Stephen was already involved with Hornets’ baseball is what makes him believe his move to the varsity bench will be a seamless one.
“I think it makes the transition very easy for me. I’m not saying being a head coach is an easy...But knowing all the kids makes it a lot easier,” says Stephen. “I coached Little League through their time, so I’ve known most of the kids since they’re 10, which makes it a lot easier. They know I’m there for them. I want to win and compete, but I’m there to make sure they become great, functional members of society. I’m there to push them and hope they can achieve success.”
One of Stephen’s biggest things for Branford this spring is to keep the team positive throughout the season. The Hornets have dropped their first few games, but Stephen feels the bounces will start going their way as long as his athletes give a full effort in every game.
“Kids are hanging their heads all upset, but they need to understand that there’s going to be another day. I need to make them understand it’s a long season. One game, one day doesn’t mean anything,” Stephen says. “The biggest problem is they get down on themselves. It carries on for several days. To be competitive, they need to learn to move on and get over it. Move on to the next day. Baseball is a game for shorter memories. If they linger, it can become detrimental. I need to keep them focused on what competing is all about. If they are giving their best effort, they will improve and we’ll be successful.
As he begins his debut campaign as Branford’s varsity coach, Stephen feels thankful that Dummar brought him into the baseball program and appreciates how both Dummar and Bethke prepared him to get the job he’s coveted.
“I’ve been coaching for a long time now. I think I’ve been able to learn a lot about how to handle kids, work with them, and stay positive with them. My coaching motto at Branford and everywhere I’ve been has been to compete,” says Stephen. “I emphasize with my kids, even in life in general, competing in school for grades and on the ball field. Life is competition. The harder they work, the better off they’ll be in the long run.”