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09/15/2016 12:00 AMThe Branford football team is welcoming a familiar face back to its coaching staff this fall with the addition of Gary Gravina as offensive coordinator.
Gary was with the Hornets from 1994 through 2008, serving as head coach for the last seven years of that tenure. Branford reached the Class MM state final in 2004 and won the MM title the next season under Gary’s watch. Gary, a Madison resident, later joined Hand football as an assistant coach and was there from 2009 through 2015—a span in which the Tigers claimed a pair of Class L crowns.
Gary certainly enjoyed his time at Hand, but when he was presented with the chance to come back to Branford in the offensive coordinator’s role, Gary felt it was an opportunity that he just couldn’t pass up. Now, Gary begins his second stint with the Hornets, who opened the season with a 27-12 win at Lyman Hall.
“I just felt that it makes sense at this point. I didn’t want to leave Hand necessarily and I was really happy there. If I could coach at two places at the same time, I would, but I just feel it makes more sense for me, especially with teaching here,” says Gary, who’s taught in the Horizons Special Education Department at Branford High School since 1994. “Branford has a young staff and, a lot of kids who played for me are coaches now, and so I thought it would be fun to go back to the school I teach at and coach kids who played for me. I have experience and thought I could help. I’m lucky to have experienced what I did at Hand and, to be able to come back here and continue to coach, I feel fortunate that I have that opportunity.”
Gary also handled the offensive coordinator duties when he was Branford’s head coach and he’s brought back the same offense to the Hornets. Branford is running the Wing Gun, which is a hybrid of the run-oriented Wing T formation and spread sets that are designed to open up the passing attack. Gary likes the Wing Gun because it constantly keeps opposing defenses guessing.
“It’s a little bit of a power offense with some finesse throwing and this forces the defense to defend both at the same time, which might be hard to do. It forces the defense to defend a big part of the field and that can be challenging for them,” Gary says. “Being an offensive coordinator, that’s exciting. You get to put together the plan and it’s challenging. There’s that excitement and challenge of the additional responsibility of being an offensive coordinator and it feels good to be doing that again.”
Gary says he loves being part of Head Coach John Limone’s staff and adds that the Hornets’ athletes “are a really hard-working, enthusiastic group of kids that love to play.” Limone, who played for Branford and then began his coaching career when Gary was head coach, feels thrilled to see one of his mentors return to the family.
“It’s awesome to have Gary back because he brings a lot of experience, a very calm demeanor, and his presence in the office and on staff is awesome for all of us,” Limone says. “For me, it’s fun to have someone I look up to back on staff. He’s a guy who gave me my start in coaching and it’s very important to me, all these years later, to be back working together. We’re in different roles, but nothing has really changed, and we’re lucky to have him.”
Limone first joined the Hornets’ coaching staff in 2004 and he took on a full-time role in 2005. Those were two of the best years in program history as Branford reached the Class MM final each time and captured the brass ring by beating East Lyme 14-7 in the 2005 championship game. Gary, who posted an overall record of 48-28-1 as Hornets’ head coach, reflects upon his squad that won the state title despite graduating most of its starters from the previous season.
“It was fortunate because we were a powerhouse in 2004 and, in 2005, we had graduated a lot of firepower, but things fell the right way, and we were able to win it with what most people said wasn’t as powerful a team,” he says. “We were able to put it together when it mattered most and I was fortunate to be part of that because it’s hard to win a state championship, which Branford hadn’t done since like 1958 or something and, back then, they voted on it. So to win it in 2005 was just a tremendous feeling and a really exciting time.”
Gary got to experience that feeling two more times as an assistant coach with Hand, which won the Class L title in 2011 and 2012, while going undefeated each season. Gary worked with Tigers’ receivers and linebackers and enjoyed contributing to the success of a team that he’s always admired.
“To go there and be part of a program that I emulated for many years was really a dream come true for me. It was an excellent experience. Having viewed them from afar, I was very grateful for [Head Coach Steve Filippone] to give me the chance to coach there,” Gary says. “It wasn’t just that [Gary’s son Cam] was there. I mean, that was wonderful for me to be there and be part of his experience, but the other half was that I was part of the program for seven years and learned from other coaches that have a vast amount of experience. It couldn’t have been a better seven years for me.”
Now that he’s back at Branford, Gary is striving to spearhead a technically sound offense that minimizes mistakes with hopes of helping the Hornets achieve something that they haven’t done in years.
“Just to be out there wearing the red and white, I look forward to the challenges and hope we can compete and have a chance to win,” he says. “Our goal is to make the playoffs and that’s what we’re working toward. Every single day, it’s about getting better to make a run at the playoffs. That’s our goal and I’m excited to start the journey to reach that goal with this group of kids and coaches.”