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07/22/2022 12:12 PMFor over two decades, Gary Brasile has been committed to giving back to his hometown as a member of the coaching staff with the East Haven High School baseball team. Gary, who still plays the sport himself, says that baseball is in his heart and soul and that coaching allows him to share his love for the game with the next generation of Yellowjackets.
Gary began playing baseball at the age of seven at The Pit. He later began coaching there when he was 17 and also spent time serving on the league’s Board of Directors. Gary played one season of high school baseball before graduating from East Haven in 1978.
After finishing his playing days at The Pit, Gary had an opportunity to become a coach in the program. Gary saw it as his first chance to give back and a great way to help younger athletes foster their love for the game.
“I always wanted to give back to the community. I love baseball,” says Gary. “When I had an opportunity to get involved in coaching, I thought it was a great idea to help young men learn the game and love the game how I love it.”
In 2000, Gary became a volunteer coach in the East Haven baseball program. Head Coach Butch Johnson asked Gary if he was interested in joining the Yellowjackets’ coaching staff, and Gary was immediately intrigued by the idea.
At first, there was a bit of a learning curve. Gary has always been competitive and wants to win. However, he came to understand that some athletes just play baseball for the love of the game. Gary learned about how to work with high school athletes from Coach Johnson and felt honored to step into the dugout with the Easties.
“It was a dream come true for me. It was something I always envisioned myself doing,” Gary says. “The first few years were a learning experience for me. Coach Johnson really taught me a lot in regards to the high school athlete. I absolutely loved it. I loved being able to communicate with the boys.”
Gary became East Haven’s freshman baseball coach in 2008 and continues to serve in that role to this day, alongside his duties as an assistant coach with the Yellowjackets’ varsity squad. By coaching the freshman team, Gary gets to see the growth of East Haven’s ballplayers as they try to make their way up the ranks. Gary’s main goal is to ensure that they grow as both athletes and people, and he always feels proud to see that progression take shape.
“As the freshman coach, you see them come in as boys and really transition into young men. It warms my heart to see them grow,” says Gary. “A lot of these guys are playing baseball just to play. I really embraced their skill levels and their mentality as to what they are there to accomplish. You’re really going out there to grow these young athletes and help them become better athletes and people.”
Gary wants his players to have fun while learning as much about the game as possible. Win or lose, Gary feels that competing with dignity and representing the program with integrity are the most important things.
With his players competing at the freshman level, Gary wants to make sure that they are versatile and can play multiple positions. Gary knows that having that type of versatility will serve them well and increase their chances of earning a large role when they make the leap to the varsity stage.
“You’d expect to have some fun and learn as much of the game as I can teach you. You win and lose with dignity, and I usually get that from all my players,” Gary says. “But I learn a lot from my players. I’m an open-minded coach. I listen to my players and take suggestions on what they want to try. I like to give them an opportunity to play different positions, which gives them an opportunity to grow in the program.”
Having worked with Gary for over 20 years, Coach Johnson has been a firsthand witness to the palpable passion that his colleague brings to the game. Johnson calls Gary a tremendous asset for the Yellowjackets and says that his efforts as a coach have made a big difference in the program.
“Gary has a deep passion for the game. He still plays,” says Johnson. “Gary leads the team in a great stretching program and loves working with all the players.”
In 1988, Gary began playing adult baseball for the Men’s Senior Baseball League, which is an organization based out of Long Island, New York. He still plays to this day and competes in Arizona every year in the 35+ age group for the league’s World Series. A lefty, Gary plays first base and the outfield.
Gary has been married to his wife Kyle for 37 years. When they first met, Gary told her about his love of baseball and that he plays every Sunday. Kyle has always embraced Gary’s passion for the game and cheers him on when he plays. Gary says that his wife’s support makes him want to give back to East Haven’s baseball community that much more.
In addition to baseball, Gary has also been training in martial arts for the past 20 years. He trained in Shotokan Karate under sensei Gil Neagle at Neagle’s Shotokan Karate Dojo in West Haven. When he is coaching, Gary tries to instill the same level of discipline and mental focus to his players that Neagle instilled into him.
As he stands in the dugout and coaches East Haven’s up-and-coming ballplayers, Gary’s mission is to ensure that every athlete on his team represents the town with class. For over 20 years, Gary has dedicated himself to showing why baseball is such a great sport and why being a part of the Yellowjackets’ baseball program is a worthwhile and fulfilling commitment.
“It means a lot to give back to the town I’ve grown up in. It’s a great town. I try to strive to give my players an opportunity to go out there and play the game that I love and hopefully they love,” Gary says.
“I always stress that my players represent this town and people will notice where you’re from. When we leave a field, they say we have a lot of class. I like to think that I bring the class to East Haven in the baseball program.”
Gary Brasile loves helping East Haven’s ballplayers hone their skills on the diamond while serving as the freshman coach and a varsity assistant for the Yellowjackets’ baseball program. Photo courtesy of Gary Brasile