New Avon High School Football Coach: Let's 'Bring a State Championship to Avon'

After 20 years of experience as an assistant coach, James Caouette was ready to take the helm as a head coach, so he took the 2012 football season off to look for opportunities.

He found one in Avon and has been hired to replace former head coach Brett Quinion, who resigned from his longtime at the end of the fall season.

Caouette, 39, applied for the job right after seeing it posted on the CIAC website.

"I knew what a great job Coach Q had done and I was intrigued by the challenge of maintaining the level of success that has been established," Caouette wrote in an email to Patch. "I also knew about our AD Newell Porch and that he would be a great guy to work for."

When asked why Quinion stepped down, Avon High School Athletic Coordinator Newell Porch wrote to Patch that "our discussions consisted of him just saying it was time."

This past season, Avon made the quarterfinal in the state tournament. Caouette comes to Avon knowing the program is strong and said he hopes to "build off of the recent success."

"We would like to become consistent playoff contenders an ultimately bring a State Championship to Avon," Caouette said.

Porch said that Caouette will make a welcome addition to the athletics staff at the high school.

"He has already brought enthusiasm and a personality that I believe will be infectious with our players to help them relate and buy into his expectations," Porch said.

Born and raised in Wolcott, Caouette has helped coach his hometown high school team from 2008 to 2010 as both a varsity defensive and offensive coordinator. 

Caoette has also been an assistant coach at Cheshire High School (2002-03), Woodland Regional High School (2006-2007) and Wilby High School (2011), as well as at the college level at Western Connecticut State University (2005). He was also the New Haven County All-Star Game defensive backs coach in 2012.

Caouette said he is grateful for the opportunity to add Avon to that list.

"I cannot thank AD Newell Porch and Superintendant Gary Mala enough for giving me the chance to lead this program," Caouette said. "I have already had a chance to meet the team and they are ready to go!.... The coaching staff is coming together nicely and we are looking forward to working extremely hard this off season to get ready for our week one opener against Canton."