Mike Forget Steps Down After 2 Seasons With Darien Football
Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut Media
Darien football head coach Mike Forget at Dalling Field in week 1 of the 2022 season
December 15, 2022
Darien head football coach Mike Forget is resigning after only 23 games at the helm. This news came when text messages sent from Forget to reporters at GametimeCT indicated his resignation.
“After devoting 11 years to the program and enjoying much success, it is time for me to move on to my next adventure.” said Mike Forget in those text messages.
In 2019, Rob Trifone stepped down after 13 seasons with Darien football, and his defensive coordinator Mike Forget was given the job.
Forget was first tasked with getting through the COVID-19 season and playing in the private league games.
In Forget’s first official season with the team in 2021, he led Darien to an impressive 12-1 and a remarkable 42-7 win over Fairfield Prep in the state championship.
While many speculated the success was due to the talent of QB Miles Drake, running back Tighe Cummiskey and the defensive likes of David Evanchick and Christian Alliegro, it was a question how Forget would run a Darien team in 2022 with high expectations.
In the new year Darien struggled to go 6-4 and missed the state playoff for the first time since 2012.
It was a down year for the program which ended with the 4th and 1 on the 1-yard line, called by Forget in the Turkey Bowl. With the game on the line, QB Simeon Doll came a yard short on the QB keeper, failing to score, losing Darien the Turkey Bowl and a playoff berth.
This wasn’t the first time this season Darien failed to score within the 5-yard line. In week 8 against the Greenwich Cardinals, Darien had a 1st and goal at the 1-yard line right before the half. Getting it to 2nd down after a timeout, Doll would pass to Brady Pokorny who would come up short of the score, however the Darien sideline was not aware of this and let the final 9 seconds tick off the clock not using their available timeout and went into the locker room empty handed. Darien would lose to the Cardinals 28-20 and this missed opportunity was heartbreaking for the Wave’s fateful.
Forget served as the head coach and offensive coordinator this season for Darien. Forget has coached in the Darien program since 2012 and led Darien to three state championships and five finals appearances under Rob Trifone from 2012 to 2019.
Forget coached Darien to an 18-5 record in his two seasons as the top dog.
As for Mike Forget, he’ll begin a new journey in his coaching career. Forget, a gym teacher at Fairfield Ludlowe High School could reunite with his former Darien offensive coordinator Mitchell Ross for the Ludlowe varsity team.
“He was with us for 11 years and won a state championship, brought out kids through COVID, and we wish him the best of luck in whatever he decides to do next.” Darien athletic director Chris Manfredonia told reporters. The Darien athletic staff has already posted the job listing and begun their search for a new head coach.
Looking at early candidates, Andy Grant emerges as the early favorite if the search goes the same route as Forget, hiring a coach already in the program. Grant was the right-hand man to Forget in 2022 being the secondary coach.
Grant has coached in the Blue Wave program for a while, and also has seen a stay coaching in the DJFL youth program. Most recently Grant coached the 8th grade DJFL team to a county championship, meaning he already has chemistry with the incoming freshman class in 2023.
Other names potentially in the running could be Darien’s defensive coordinator Dave Brennan and defensive line coach Mike Money. The next most veteran coaches on the staff in 2022 with Brennan having served a short stay at Masuk High School as the head coach.
These are just current staff members, however, it is very well possible this search finds an outside newcomer looking to take over one of the most storied programs in the state of Connecticut.
All this is unknown, but what isn’t is the fact that 2023 will bring a new chapter for Darien football and it all starts with a brand new head coach leading the squad.
