Jim Buonocore

Ledyard High School Athletic Director and Assistant Principal, Retired Head Football Coach, Springfield College '96 G'98

[Jim Buonocore @ledyardsports]

This is how legends are made. (L to R) Coach Gil Varjas, Coach Dave Campo and Coach Jim Buonocore in 1970 leading the New London High School Whalers Football Team #cthsfb @nlhsathletics

[Ledyard Athletic Booster Club @LedyardABooster]

This offer is only good for a limited time. Get your all season passes now! You can pay online or purchase at Fall Sports Night next Thursday, August 13th. This is a deal you shouldn’t miss out on!@ledyardsports

[Ledyard Athletic Booster Club @LedyardABooster]

Join us prior to sports night (Aug 13th - 5:30 a 6:45 in media center) for first booster club meeting of the season. Follow link to join Athletic Booster Club GroupMe chat for communications and meeting updates through the year. https://t.co/SGAW3NNXpo

[Jim Buonocore @ledyardsports]

If you are planning on playing a fall sport, we will see you on August 13th! #LHScolonelpride

[Jim Buonocore @ledyardsports]

Fall Sports Registration is now open. Please check your emails for all pertinent information regarding the registration process, Fall Sports Night date and time and the start of our fall sports season #LHScolonelpride

[William Payne @TweetsbyCoachP]

High school athletic directors occupy one of the most demanding, and rewarding, leadership positions in education. On any given day, they’re expected to be administrators, event managers, marketers, fundraisers, compliance officers, transportation coordinators, counselors, conflict mediators, and public relations specialists. Then, when the lights come on Friday night, they’re simply expected to make sure everything runs flawlessly.

It’s a role that’s often misunderstood because the most important work happens behind the scenes. If everything goes according to plan, no one notices. If one small detail falls through the cracks, everyone does.

The hurdles are real.

Athletic directors constantly balance limited budgets against growing expectations. Facilities need repairs. Equipment wears out. Officials are becoming harder to recruit. Transportation costs continue to rise. State association regulations evolve. Every year seems to bring more responsibility without additional resources.

Then there are the people.

Every coach wants more opportunities for their program. Every parent wants what’s best for their child. Every booster group has ideas. Every principal has priorities. Every student-athlete deserves an exceptional experience.

The challenge isn’t deciding who is right. The challenge is finding a way to serve everyone while understanding that not every request can become reality.

Communication may be the single most valuable skill an athletic director possesses.

One schedule change can affect multiple schools, officials, transportation departments, custodians, coaches, families, and hundreds of student-athletes. A weather delay can reshape an entire week. One misunderstood email can create unnecessary conflict that takes days to resolve. Great athletic directors understand that overcommunicating is almost always better than undercommunicating.

Perhaps the greatest challenge is that athletic directors are often evaluated by outcomes they control the least. They don’t coach the games. They don’t make the shots. They don’t score the touchdowns. Yet when things go wrong, the athletic department is often the first place people look for answers.

Despite all of that, few careers offer the rewards this profession does.

You watch nervous freshmen become confident seniors. You see struggling students find purpose through athletics. You hire coaches who influence lives far beyond the playing field. You build cultures and traditions that continue long after you’ve moved on.

The best athletic directors know that banners eventually collect dust, trophies become decorations, and records are eventually broken.

What lasts are the relationships.

It’s the former athlete who returns years later to introduce you to their family. It’s the coach who tells you your support helped them through a difficult season. It’s the parent who thanks you not because their child won, but because their child grew.

The hours are long. The criticism can be loud. The responsibility is constant.

But somewhere in the middle of the chaos, athletic directors help shape students into better and/or more well rounded leaders, teammates, and people .

There are few callings more meaningful than that.

[NFHS @NFHS_Org]

Participating in multiple sports can help student-athletes develop a broader range of skills, both physically and mentally.

Different sports challenge athletes in different ways, helping build adaptability, coordination, confidence, and resilience. They can also provide variety that keeps participation fun and engaging throughout the year.

At its core, education-based athletics are about helping students grow through their experiences, and multi-sport participation is one way that growth can take shape.

#DidYouKnow #EducationBasedAthletics #PlayPerformCompeteTogether

[Jim Buonocore @ledyardsports]

@TheDayCTsports Congratulations to Coach Ford. He did a tremendous job at Ledyard and we wish him the best in his new role as head coach of the @nlhsathletics girls basketball team #ctgb @TheDayCTsports @vickieattheday

[Jim Buonocore @ledyardsports]

Judy Standish Gymnasium will have a little different look this fall and winter as the infamous drop ceiling is no longer. The walls are a little empty right now but after the paint is complete, the league and state championship banners will be back #LHScolonelpride

[Jim Buonocore @ledyardsports]

Coach Jim Buonocore & Coach Gil Varjas Memorial Golf Outing will be held on Monday October 12, 2026 at Lake of Isles with a shotgun start at 9:00am. Registration is now open. We look forward to seeing everyone in the fall. Don't wait, register today!

[NFHS @NFHS_Org]

Safety remains a priority in high school track and field. 🏃‍♂️ 🏃🏽‍♀️

Approved rules changes for 2027 focus on reducing the risk of injury during throwing events while also providing additional updates for the upcoming season.

🔗: https://t.co/KgY0XfwXSi

#PlayPerformCompeteTogether

[NFHS @NFHS_Org]

Communication. Clarity. Consistency. 🥎

The NFHS has approved four softball rules changes for 2027, including allowing pitchers to receive one-way electronic communication from the dugout.

Get the details: https://t.co/kvaxGYuOkX

[NFHS @NFHS_Org]

⚾️ Big changes are coming to high school baseball!

The 2027 Baseball Rules Changes include a new first-base option, expanded electronic communication and more. Get all the details before the season begins! 👇

https://t.co/i5kOx7Admy

#PlayPerformCompeteTogether

[Jim Buonocore @ledyardsports]

Scenes from today's 18th Annual Ledyard High School Athletics Golf Tournament #LHScolonelpride @GoECCAthletics @TheDayCTsports

[Jim Buonocore @ledyardsports]

Thank you to members of our Athletics Class Act Council for their assistance this morning at the 18th Annual LHS Athletics golf tournament (L to R) Kaitlyn Sweeney, Sam Dunsmore, Maggie Littler #LHScolonelpride @GoECCAthletics @TheDayCTsports

[Jim Buonocore @ledyardsports]

A full field today at Lake of Isles for our 18th Annual Ledyard High School Athletics Golf Tournament. Despite the wet conditions, we had some great performances and a fun time. Thank you to our sponsors, participants and the Lake of Isles #LHScolonelpride @TheDayCTsports

[Nathan Whitaker @NathanWhitaker]

The world notices titles, brands, and appearances. Character notices integrity, humility, and faithfulness.
Style may impress for a moment.
Substance earns trust for a lifetime. #uncommon

[ECC Athletics @GoECCAthletics]

The games may be over, but the accomplishments are forever. Join us as we look back at the unforgettable moments, champions, and All-Stars that defined the 2026 ECC Spring Sports season #eccnation
https://t.co/qeoOaBMmb3

[Coach Jeff Barnes @JeffBarnes52]

As an AD, one of the biggest challenges is understanding what athletes and parents truly want. Everyone says they want to win, but too often the communication I receive is centered around why practice is being missed, why workouts can’t happen, or why the commitment isn’t possible.

Winning is rarely about what happens on game day, it’s built in the unseen hours of preparation, consistency, and sacrifice. You cannot claim to want success while consistently avoiding the work required to achieve it.

Too often, “we want to win” really means “we want the rewards of winning without the discomfort of earning it.” When that gap exists, the blame often shifts to the coach instead of the habits.

Great programs are built when athletes, parents, and coaches all align in understanding that commitment comes before results. Wanting to win and being willing to do what it takes to win are two very different things.

[Jim Buonocore @ledyardsports]

SOLD OUT! See you on July 6 at Lake of Isles #LHScolonelpride @GoECCAthletics @TheDayCTsports @GametimeCT @GameDayCT

[Jim Buonocore @ledyardsports]

Congratulations to junior pitcher Lexi Lemmon who was named to the CHSCA Class L All State softball team. Lexi is pictured with Coach Morris at the all state banquet #LHScolonelpride #ctsb @GoECCAthletics @TheDayCTsports