Westport, Conn. – In a surprising turn of events for the Staples High School football program, head coach Adam Behrends has announced he is stepping down after five successful seasons. Behrends, who led the team to a CIAC Class LL championship and a final No. 1 ranking in the 2023 GametimeCT Top 10 Poll, is heading to the University of New Mexico where he will work as an offensive analyst focusing on quarterbacks and wide receivers.
Behrends shared the news with his players during a meeting on Monday. “Honestly, today I feel pretty sad,” Behrends said. “It was a bummer having to let the kids and the parents know, but everybody’s been really excited for me. They understand it’s always been something I’ve been interested in.”
Since joining the Wreckers in 2019, Behrends has compiled an impressive record of 40 wins and 16 losses, with a remarkable 38-8 record since 2021. In the most recent season, Staples started with a loss but bounced back to finish at 12-1. The team ended their season triumphantly, defeating West Haven 21-20 to capture the Class LL championship. For his efforts, Behrends was recognized as the New Haven Register and Walter Camp Coach of the Year in that season.
VJ Sarullo, the athletic director at Staples, praised Behrends for his remarkable impact both on and off the field. “On the field speaks for itself with the success and off the field, as good a coach as he is, he’s an even better person,” Sarullo stated. “He connects with the kids so well and has been able to teach them life lessons along the way.”
Behrends will be joining a new coaching staff at New Mexico led by head coach Jason Eck, who previously coached at Idaho. Eck brought several assistants with him, including Luke Schleusner, who has a history with Behrends. The two have kept in touch over the years and recently discussed Behrends taking on this new role. “It’s really something I couldn’t turn down as hard as it was,” Behrends explained.
The decision to leave, he admitted, was tough, especially because of the connections he built within the Staples community. “It’s the kind of kids we have, the kinds of families they come from, how invested the community is, and the support from the administration,” Behrends noted. “I let them know this has been the biggest honor of my life.”
Replacing Behrends will be a challenge for the Staples program. Sarullo acknowledged that it will be an “incredibly difficult” task to find someone who can match Behrends’ contributions. “Westport is a high-performing district academically and athletically, so we know success will attract attention,” he added.
Even as Behrends prepares for his new chapter, he assured that he will continue to support the Staples football team. “Staples is still going to be rocking without me,” he said. “Nobody’s going to be rooting harder for these guys on the football field and in life.”
