Glenn McLellan
Glenn McLellan
Glenn was hired by the Avon Board of Education in 1966 to teach physical education and coach the Avon High School Football team. At the time he probably did not imagine this opportunity turning into twenty eight years as a coach of four sports and becoming the leader and mentor to the thousands of student athletes.
McLellan’s own playing career started at the Gilbert school in Winsted and included football and baseball. While at Gilbert, he set a football scoring record that lasted 20 years until it was finally broken in 1972, and his performances there earned him a membership in the Winsted Athletics Hall of Fame. After high school, Glenn went on to become a standout student-athlete at the University of Connecticut. He was a fullback for the UConn Huskies football team that won the Yankee Conference in 1957 and 1958, and was also a catcher on the Huskies baseball team that made it to the College World Series in 1957.
McLellan’s accomplishments at Avon High School are lengthy. He led the football program from 1966-1991, then again in 1994. During his tenure as head coach he amassed 130 wins, four North West Conference championships (‘67,’71,’80 and ‘83) and five North Central Connecticut Conference championships (‘87,’88,’89,’90 and ‘91). His 1967 football team was the first in Avon school history to go undefeated at 8-0. The ‘67 team was awarded the CIAC Merit award, presented to the best team prior to the CIAC conducting any official state championship. His 1971 team was also awarded the same Merit award. In 1980, the football team scored a school record 345 points in a season, one that stood for 20 years.
In addition to football, Glenn started the wrestling program at Avon High School and coached it during the first four years. In his time as the wrestling coach, his teams went 44-7 highlighted by the 1971 squad who went 13-0 and became the school’s first undefeated wrestling team while winning back to back conference championships. McLellan also coached the boys track team from 1988 to 1991, compiling a record of 47-7. In 1991, his track team won both the North Central Connecticut Conference championship as well as the Class S State Championship with Glenn coaching championship performances from Dushawne Simpson in the 200 and 400 meter events as well as Jeff Cavanaugh in the 5,000 meter race. Glenn’s true impact was never just about the wins and losses, but his ability to mentor Avon’s student-athletes and impact their lives during his lengthy career as both an educator and coach. Glenn McLellan is truly a legend at Avon High School.