In 1986, Father Douglas Mosey, CSB; Anthony Giampietro, Thomas Elliott, Martin Grealy, John Rossi, and John Hiller came together to help the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist fundraise. These men organized the first Franciscan Sports Banquet for the benefit of the Franciscan Life Center. This event honors, in the spirit of Saint Francis of Assisi, individuals who combine excellence in athletics with joyful service to the community.

The Franciscan Sports Banquet has grown in popularity over the years. Many fine athletes, coaches and other sports figures, both national and local, have been recipients of various awards. We also recognize athletes from Special Olympics Connecticut.

Each year, we present the Saint Francis Award to a man who is committed to Christian values in athletics. In 1999, the Sports Banquet Committee initiated the Saint Clare Award to honor a woman in the field of athletics. The Jim Calhoun Community Service Award was added in 2005. In 2013, we established the Dean of Sports Award to honor the memory of Arnold Dean, host of WTIC “Sports Talk.” Mother Shaun Vergauwen, F.S.E., Co-Foundress of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, presented the first Mother Shaun Appreciation Award in 2016 for ongoing commitment and support of the Sisters and their mission.

The proceeds from the Annual Franciscan Sports Banquet now help support the programs of the Franciscan Life Center and Franciscan Home Care and Hospice Care, both non-profit organizations, founded by the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. Programs include counseling, educational opportunities, community land-based services, home care and hospice care. These programs serve thousands of individuals and families each year.

The Annual Franciscan Sports Banquet and Silent Auction is held each year at the Aqua Turf Club, Plantsville, Connecticut, from 5:30 – 9:30 p.m. This year’s event is June 6, 2023.

Franciscan Sports Banquet Honored Guests

2023

Michael “Coach K” Krzyzewski

Retired Head Basketball Coach, Duke University

St. Francis Award

Tina Gonyea

Mickie Krzyzewski, Co-founder
Emily K Foundation

St. Clare Award

William Ghio

President, WMG & Sons
Franchisee of Dunkin’ Donuts

Jim Calhoun Community Service Award

Tim Tolokan

Retired Associate Director of Athletics, UConn

Dean of Sports Award

Gretche Rossi

Public Relations Director
Franciscan Life Center
Franciscan Home Care and Hospice Care

Mother Shaun Appreciation Award

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

2022

Scott Burrell

Men’s Head Basketball Coach, SCSU

St. Francis Award

Tina Gonyea

Head Girls’ Basketball Coach, Platt High School

St. Clare Award

Dr. Rhona Free

President, University of Saint Joseph

Jim Calhoun Community Service Award

Rick Leddy

Senior Director of Communications, National Association of Basketball Coaches

Dean of Sports Award

Cardinal Fernando Filoni

Grand Master, Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre

Mother Shaun Appreciation Award

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

2021

Eli Manning

Super Bowl Champion Quarterback, New York Giants

St. Francis Award

Jackie DiNardo

Head Girls Basketball Coach, Danbury High School

St. Clare Award

Rich Marazzi

Baseball Rules Consultant and Author

Dean of Sports Award

Tom and Donna Finn

Marriage and Family Advocates

Mother Shaun Appreciation Award

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

2020 – Cancelled due to Covid-19

2019

Jay Wright

Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Villanova University

 St. Francis Award

Sharon Robinson

Consultant, Major League Baseball & Author

St. Clare Award

Ray Andrewsen

Radio Host

Dean of Sports Award

Paul Polo

Senior Vice President of ACMT

Jim Calhoun Community Service Award

John Sullivan

Owner, Sullivan Brothers Remodeling

Mother Shaun Appreciation Award

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

2018

Rece Davis

Commentator, ESPN

St. Francis Award

Claire Smith

Coordinating Editor, ESPN

St. Clare Award

Joe D’Ambrosio

“Voice of the Huskies”

Dean of Sports Award

Bernie Schilberg

CEO, Prime Materials Recovery

Jim Calhoun Community Service Award

John Salerno and

Owner, Tops Marketplace

Betsy Tooker

Manager, Tops Marketplace

Mother Shaun Appreciation Award

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

2017

Dee Rowe

Special Advisor to Athletics, University of Connecticut

St. Francis Award

Suzy Whaley

PGA Vice President

St. Clare Award

Michael Cavanaugh

Head Coach, Men’s Ice Hockey, University of Connecticut

Jim Calhoun Community Service Award

Rich Coppola

Sports Director, Fox 61

Dean of Sports Award

Rod and Janice Reynolds

Benefactors

Mother Shaun Appreciation Award

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

2016

Tom Coughlin

Retired Head Coach New York Giants

St. Francis Award

Chris McKendry

Sports Broadcaster, ESPN, Grand Slam Tennis

St. Clare Award

Jim Penders

Head Baseball Coach, University of Connecticut

Jim Calhoun Community Service Award

Tony Terzi

News Reporter, Fox 61 News

Dean of Sports Award

Tedy Bruschi

Former New England Patriots Player

Special Guest

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

2015

Bill Raftery

National Sports Broadcaster and 2015 NCAA Final Four Announcer

St. Francis Award

Carolyn Vanacore

Professor Emerita, Southern Connecticut State University

St. Clare Award

Ray Reid

Head Men’s Soccer Coach, University of Connecticut

Jim Calhoun Community Service Award

Scott Gray

Former Announcer and Commentator, WTIC

Dean of Sports Award

Dan Gooley

Head Baseball Coach, Quinnipiac University

Special Recognition

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

2014

Kevin Ollie

Head Coach, University of Connecticut Men’s Basketball

St. Francis Award

Jackie MacMullan

Columnist, Author, and ESPN Sports Commentator

St. Clare Award

Guy DeFrances, Sr., Esquire

Brown & Welch, P.C

Jim Calhoun Community Service Award

Dave Bike

Former Head Coach, Sacred Heart University Men’s Basketball

Dean of Sports Award

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

2013

Jack McDonald, AD

Quinnipiac University

St. Francis Award

John Mirabello

Head Boys’ Basketball Coach, Northwest Catholic

Jim Calhoun Community Service Award

Jim Calhoun

Former Head Men’s Basketball Coach, University of Connecticut

Tribute

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

2012

Christopher Snee and Kevin Boothe

Offensive Linemen, NY Giants

St. Francis Awards

Donald “Dee” Rowe

Special Advisor for Athletics, UCONN

Jim Calhoun Community Service Award

Jaci Carroll

Founder, Jaci Carroll Staffing

Corporate Sponsorship Award

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

2011

Thomas Moore

Men’s Head Basketball Coach, Quinnipiac University

St. Francis Award

Luisa Kuhn

Wife of former Baseball Commissioner, Bowie Kuhn

St. Clare Award

Kevin Ollie

Assistant Coach, University of Connecticut

Jim Calhoun Community Service Award

Central Connecticut Acoustics, Incorporated

Corporate Sponsorship Award

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

2010

George Grande

Play by Play Television Announcer, Cincinnati Reds

St. Francis Award

Al Terzi

Emmy Award Winning Broadcast Journalist and Anchor, Channel 3 EyeWitness News

Jim Calhoun Community Service Award

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

2009

Jay Bilas

College Basketball Analyst, ESPN, Inc.

St. Francis Award

Kristine Lilly

Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and Two-Time World Cup Champion, Member of the Boston Breakers, Professional Women’s Soccer League

St. Clare Award

Francis J. Oneglia and Family

Co-founder of O & G Industries, Inc.

Jim Calhoun Community Service Award

2008

Kevin Gilbride

Offensive Coordinator, New York Giants

St. Francis Award

Paul Pendergast

President and Chief Development Officer, Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center

Jim Calhoun Community Service Award

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

2007

George Blaney

Assistant Coach, University of Connecticut Men’s Basketball

St. Francis Award

Tricia Fabbri

Head Coach, Quinnipiac University Women’s Basketball

St. Clare Award

James Smith

Chairman of the Board, Webster Bank

Jim Calhoun Community Service Award

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

2006

Brooks Robinson

Baseball Hall of Fame Third Baseman, Baltimore Orioles

St. Francis Award

Jennifer Rizzotti

Head Women’s Basketball Coach, University of Hartford

St. Clare Award

Bill Mitchell

Mitchell Clothing of Westport

Jim Calhoun Community Service Award

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

2005

Steve Rushin

Columnist, SI

St. Francis Award

Rebecca Lobo

University of Connecticut and Women’s National Basketball Association

St. Clare Award

Peter J. Deckers, MD

Executive Director, University of Connecticut Medical Center

Jim Calhoun Community Service Award

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

2004

Randy Edsall

Head Football Coach, University of Connecticut

St. Francis Award

Rosa Gatti

Senior Vice President Communications, ESPN, Inc.

St. Clare Award

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

2003

Lew Perkins

Athletic Director, University of Connecticut

St. Francis Award

Susan Saint James

Actress, Supporter of Special Olympians

St. Clare Award

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

2002

Chris Godfrey

President and Chief Executive Officer, Life Athletes

St. Francis Award

Chris Dailey

Associate Head Coach, University of Connecticut Women’s Basketball

St. Clare Award

Sparky Anderson

Hall of Fame Baseball Manager

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

2001

Arnold Dean

the “Dean of Sports” WTIC Sports Talk

St. Francis Award

2000

Jude Kelly

Head Football Coach, Southington High School

St. Francis Award

Rob Szymaszek

Head Football Coach, Maloney High School

St. Francis Award

1999

Thomas Monaghan

Founder of Domino’s Pizza and Former Owner, Detroit Tigers

St. Francis Award

Pat Calhoun

Wife of Head Basketball Coach, Jim Calhoun

St. Clare Award

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

1998

Tommy Lasorda

General Manager, Los Angeles Dodgers

St. Francis Award

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

1997

Bowie Kuhn

Former Baseball Commissioner

St. Francis Award

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

1996

Howard Dickenman

Head Basketball Coach, Central Connecticut State University

St. Francis Award

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

1995

Skip Holtz

Head Football Coach, University of Connecticut

St. Francis Award

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

1994

Geno Auriemma

Head Coach Women’s Basketball,  University of Connecticut

St. Francis Award

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

1993

Paul Pasqualoni

Head Football Coach, Syracuse University

St. Francis Award

George DeLeone

Assistant Coach, Syracuse University

St. Francis Award

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

1992

Gus D’Angelo

Basketball and Baseball Coach, University of Connecticut at Waterbury

St. Francis Award

Hubie Williamson

Director of Pearl Street SportsPlex, Waterbury

St. Francis Award

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

1991

Dick Macpherson

Head Coach, New England Patriots

St. Francis Award

Rob Thomson

Syracuse Orangeman and New England Patriots

St. Francis Award

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

1990

Jim Calhoun

Head Basketball Coach, University of Connecticut

St. Francis Award

Tate George

Co-Captain, UConn Huskies

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

1989

Mark Bavaro

New York Giants

Ned Bolcar, Ted Fitzgerald, and Jim Kinshert

1988-1989 National Football Champions, University of Notre Dame

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

1988

Floyd Patterson

Heavyweight Champion of the World

Brian Leetch

Olympic Hockey Team and New York Rangers

Craig Janney

Olympic Hockey Team and Boston Bruins

Athletes

Special Olympics Connecticut

1987

Bart Oates

Center, New York Giants

Mel Stottlemyer

Pitching Coach, New York Mets

Steve Zabriske

New York Mets Announcer

Mark Bavaro

New York Giants

1986

Don Shinnick

Linebacker Coach, New England Patriots

Tom Patton

College of the Holy Cross

Karl Nelson

New York Giants