Battaglia returns to Aquin as a Cheffussball coach

By Kevin Oklobzija

Chris Battaglia suddenly faces a loyalty dilemma.

On Saturday, the webster Schroeder Girls' Basketball Team will play in the Aquina Institute in the championship game of Section V of the AA class.

Schroeder is trained by Codi Battaglia Mrozek, his daughter, while Aquina's former school is Battaglia – and now his new school.

Battaglia was appointed Li'l Irish Cheff football coach on Thursday. He replaces Maurice Jackson, who was relieved of his tasks on Monday, although he led AQ to Section V Class AA championship last autumn.

This is Battaglia's third stint as head coach at AQ. From 1985 to 1988 he headed Li'l Irish before starting a 10-year-old run as an assistant coach at the University of Rochester. He became the head coach of Aquin again in 2006 and started an incredible success.

In these eleven seasons, Aquin won nine section V crowns and four state championships.

“My father -in -law always said that they had to have everything and we did it,” said Battaglia on Thursday evening. “We had a lot of great children, many great players and many great families.”

This success and Battaglia's commitment to the school values ​​of kindness, discipline and knowledge prompted the Aquinas official to reach this week.

“Aquinas football is based on tradition, and this tradition is based on the development of athletes who are successful on and outside the field,” said sports director Anthony Bianchi in a press release. “Coach Battaglias Record speaks for itself, but it is his commitment to the charisms of Aquinas who made this decision so clear.

“His leadership will ensure that our program continues to thrive.”

Aquina's President David C. Eustis said: “More than the awards, it is his unshakable commitment to the young men in this program, who made this decision easy.”

Battaglia spent the past seven years at Iredquoit in Dan Fichter's football employee and supervised the defense and at the same time worked as quarterback trainers. He said that the only job that Iredequoit could have ever reduced him will return to Aquin.

“Leaving is very difficult because I love the children and I love the children,” he said.

But he also knows that there is work to do with Aquin.

“At this point, the program needed someone who is familiar with it and can help him rule his feet,” said Battaglia. “It is a little of the tracks and we will try to get it back on the track.”

If someone knows how Aquina's football rolls, it's Battaglia. His past success with the Li'l Irish is unsurpassed. Between 2006 and 2011, AQ won six consecutive titles of section V -Class A.

“I love school and I love the children,” said Battaglia. “We want to bring football back to a high school sport where children play and have fun.”

Derek Annechino is on the return trip to the Dewey Avenue campus. He was an assistant to Battaglia's employees from 2006 to 2016 and worked as head coach from 2017 to 2022. He was the offensive line coach at Irondequoit last season.

When the news of the attitude on Thursday spread, the former players called Battaglia and wrote an SMS.

“I don't think I have enough coaching positions for all children who called and asked if they could help,” he said.

But what about the basketball game on Saturday? Who will cheer Battaglia?

“I'm true blue,” he said, referring to Schroeder's blue, white and golden colors. “I roll with 'code'.”