Gary Palladino speaks about his new book entitled “Charge!!”

Gary Palladino

Coach Palladino’s book is about charging through the obstacles in life, the power of relationships and the valuable life lessons he has learned along the way.

His life’s journey is full of humility and gratitude for all the people who encouraged, shaped, and carried him to success. He survived the curve balls life threw his way with perseverance, faith and the support of others. He hopes young people, in particular, will read his story and realize their potential.

“You don’t realize how many people have played an important part in your life until you sit down and begin to write,” he said.

A classmate of mine at Bristol Eastern, Gary taught both high school and college basketball, doing so for a total of 45 years. He’s been inducted into 10 different Sports Hall of Fames, was nominated for “National Coach of the Year” on the high school level on four occasions, coached in four state scholastic championship games — winning back-to-back titles at St. Paul in 1974 and 1975 — and has won 561 career games.

He played football, basketball and baseball at Bristol Eastern before going on to the University of Hartford to play both basketball and baseball. He was named Hartford’s “Athlete of the Year” in 1965, 1966 and 1967, and earned numerous awards in basketball. Included were being two-time All-New England and All-East, while being named to the Small All-American team for players 6-0 and under. In his senior year he won the prestigious Bob Cousy Award.

The former Forestville resident has been a guest lecturer around New England and has authorized numerous articles on his coaching techniques in both “Scholastic Coach” magazine and “Athletic Journal.”