Coach of the Year

NFHS honors Fitch’s Trafficante for success on the soccer field

By BILL SULLIVAN

Vindicator sports staff

AUSTINTOWN — The National Federation of State High School Associations has gone on record with an opinion that many observers have believed for years: Fitch High School’s Carlo Trafficante is one of the premier soccer coaches in Ohio.

Not that he needed verification, but the NFHS recently recognized Trafficante as the Ohio 2009 girl’s soccer coach of the year.

Fitch athletic director Rob Conklin, who’s been involved in prep athletics for 36 years, explained why he nominated Trafficante for the prestigious honor.

“His run of success and the classy way in which he goes about his profession stood out,” Conklin said.

“He gains the utmost respect and he has the right perspective.”

Conklin said that the coach’s hard work and dedication have gone a long way in developing a solid program there.

But, high school coaching success isn’t measured simply by wins and losses; success in an index of teaching values to young players.

It took a while for Trafficante to recall his win-loss record at Fitch but he quickly noted his players have earned the district Team Academic Award seven of the past eight years.

That distinction goes to schools with a 3.25 composite GPA.

“I hope I’ve had some kind of impression on the players,” Trafficante said. “I hope I’ve had some kind of influence on them.”

He began playing at age 5 and continued his career through his senior year at Fitch. However, Trafficante knew early on that he was destined to stay in the game after hanging up his spikes for good.

“I always wanted to coach — to pass along the passion, to pass along my love for the game and to build upon that.”

His father, Paul, who now resides in Florida, introduced Carlo to the game and paved the way for him to play with the Sons of Italy club in tournaments and travel ball.

After joining the Fitch teaching staff 11 years ago, Trafficante was asked to help coach the lady Falcons — a move he at first debated.

“I wanted to coach the boys; I had no experience with the girls side,” he said.

After three seasons as an assistant, Trafficante became the girl’s head coach in 2002.

“Looking back, I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said.

He’s seen a dozen or so of his players go on to play in colleges, with one each competing at Wright State, Duquesne and at Youngstown State.

And, now a national organization has recognized his ability and his wise choice to accept the challenge in coaching the Fitch girls.

sullivan@vindy.com