Immaculate High School’s Athletic Hall of Fame will induct Coach Francisco “Chico” Barata of Danbury for his many achievements on May 4, 2018 at a special dinner and induction ceremony at the Ethan Allen Hotel in Danbury at 6:30pm. Tickets are available at www.immaculatehs.org/hof. He currently coaches in Easton, CT.
Coach Barata, otherwise known as “Chico,” served as Immaculate High School’s boys soccer head coach from 1991 to 2010. Coach Barata led his team to State championships in 1996 and 1997 and several league finals. He has over 35 years of coaching experience at the youth, club and high school levels. Chico has trained professional athletes in the United States and abroad, including players that have earned All New-England and All-American status, as well as training many travel programs and club teams. He is currently a member of the NSCAA and holds a USSF and CIAC license.
Coach Barata has earned many accolades at the premier and competitive level including several tournament and State championships. He is known for being a wonderful soccer coach and working at the game’s highest levels for many years. Chico is currently working with his son and IHS Hall of Fame 2011 inducted athlete John Barata ‘96 to help bring his passion to the kids in the Easton, CT soccer community. IHS alumnus and Hall of Famer John Barata comments on his father’s career: “He has taught the beautiful game of soccer and helped develop quality citizens. He gave of himself and poured his heart and soul into each and every player he coached at Immaculate and elsewhere.” Chico worked for decades at Kanthal (Sandvik) in Bethel, CT. Coach Barata is currently a Senior Staff Coach with the Beautiful Game Soccer Academy based in Massachusetts and lives in Danbury, CT.
The Master of Ceremonies for the 2018 Athletic Hall of Fame is Bart Busterna. Bart is a longtime broadcaster on local radio, having been employed as a Sports Director/Program Director for WLAD since 1980. Bart has received more than 30 broadcast and journalism awards from organizations such the AP and UPI. He was inducted into the WCSU Athletic Hall of Fame and was the football play-by-play announcer for almost three decades. He currently handles online basketball broadcasts for WCSU.
Coach Francisco "Chico" Barata - Boys Soccer Coach '92-'07
David Bonilla '00 - Cross Country, Basketball & Baseball
Nikki (Weiss) Conte '07 - Soccer & Basketball
Chris Haddad '00 - Basketball & Baseball
1986 State & WCC Championship Ice Hockey Team
Immaculate High School's Athletic Hall of Fame was founded in 1989 and currently has 79 members and two teams. Inductees exemplify the rich tradition of Immaculate High School athletics and represent those who have brought honor and distinction to IHS since the doors opened in 1962. The ceremony will include a special presentation of Immaculate’s first 1,000 point basketball which will be presented to the school by recipient Paul Hiro ‘68. The public is invited to participate in this very special event. Tickets, as well as sponsorship and advertising opportunities, are available until April 27 at www.immaculatehs.org/hof. Contact Denise Suarez, IHS Director of Alumni Relations, at 203-744-1510 ext. 158 for more information.
Immaculate High School is a private, non-profit Catholic college-preparatory institution serving students from 28 communities in Connecticut and New York. Founded in 1962, Immaculate High School allows students to focus on academic excellence, spiritual development, service to others and personal goals. Located in Danbury, CT, Immaculate High School is part of the Diocese of Bridgeport’s parochial school system. For more information, go to www.immaculatehs.org.