With new coach, Simsbury looks to rebound from tough 2025 season

Simsbury QB Braeden Siano ran for two touchdowns in a 38-26 loss to Hall in 2026.

There is a sense of high energy surrounding Simsbury High head coach Jim Caouette. It was there about 10 years ago when Caouette had his first head coaching job at Avon, winning 23 of 34 games and a CCC divisional title in 2015.

It was there in Waterbury where he spent nine years as the defensive coordinator for Holy Cross, who qualified for three straight CIAC playoff berths from 2021-23.

It’s still there today as Caouette takes over the reins of a Trojan squad looking to rebuild from last season’s disappointing 1-9 campaign that saw the Trojans give up a program-record 374 points.

“I always had a kind of an itch to be a head coach again, but I really wanted it to be the right opportunity,” he said. “Simsbury has a great community, a great town that supports their student athletes, a great administration that love sports.”

It was a young and inexperienced team under coach Vinny Guiel in 2025 that took their lumps.

There were some bright spots with a 44-28 win over East Hartford and putting up 26 points against Hall and 20 against Fairfield Warde.

“One of the things that drew me to this position was there are 21, maybe 22, seniors on this team and when they were in eighth grade they won a lot of football games,” Caouette said. “I know some of the kids. I know some of the talent. I did a lot of homework, a lot of research.

“I watched a lot of last year’s games and really think that this group of kids could really do something special. I’m hoping that I can help them win some games and make their senior season special,” he said.

Caouette made no promises on the number of wins or what his team could accomplish.

“Our team is going to come out and compete no matter who we’re playing,” he said. “Our single focus right is Middletown. We’ve got them in week one and if we can beat them, we’ll be 1-0 for the first time in a long time (2021).

Simsbury travels to Palmer Field in Middletown Thursday, Sept. 10, to open the season against the Blue Dragons at 6 p.m. It is just Simsbury’s second game against Middletown since 1970 and the first since 2009.

“But I’m not looking too far ahead. We’ve some great teams on the schedule. My single focus right now is really trying to find a way to beat a well-coached Middletown team. They have a lot of talent and speed.”

Simsbury has six starters returning on the offensive line and five on the defensive line with some size and strength led by seniors Brett Osborne is 6-2, 220 pounds and Jeff von Pechmann is 6-3 and 250 pounds.

Senior QB Braeden Siano returns for his second season in Simsbury. He played two years at Chicopee High in Massachusetts, throwing for 2,252 awards and 22 TDs before coming to Connecticut a year ago.

Cole Roberts, Bryan George. Brayson Wagner and Kayveon Long are experienced receivers with junior Nas King returning at running back.

SIMSBURY
Head coach: Jim Caouette, first year; 23-9 career
Nickname: Trojans
Conference: CCC Tier II
Last season: 1-9, 1-5 CCC Tier II
Last winning season: 2019, 10-2
CIAC playoff class: Class L
Playoff appearances: 5, (1-5)
Last CIAC playoff appearance: 2019
League or division championships: 17. Most recent title: 2009 CCC Division I (shared)
Opening day record: 54-53-3. Last opening day win: 2021, Simsbury 37, New Britain 0
Social media: Facebook: simsburygridironclub; Instagram: Simsbury_Trojans_football
Team website: https://www.simsburygridiron.org/
Of note: Caouette was an assistant coach at Holy Cross for nine years. He was the defensive coordinator for the Crusaders, who qualified for the CIAC playoffs in three straight years (2022-24). He was the head coach for three years at Avon from 2013-15 and the Falcons won a CCC division title in 2015 (Division III East) … This is the first-ever game against Watertown.

2026 schedule
Thur. Sept. 10: at Middletown, 6 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 18: WATERTOWN, 6:30 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 25: at Avon/St. Paul, 6 p.m.
Thur. Oct. 1: BLOOMFIELD, 6:30 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 9: at Farmington, 6 p.m.
Thur. Oct. 22: at Bristol Eastern, 6:30 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 30: at Wethersfield, 6 p.m.
Fri. Nov. 6: NEWINGTON, 6:30 p.m.
Fri. Nov. 13: E.O. Smith, 6:30 p.m.
Fri. Nov. 20: GLASTONBURY, 6:30 p.m.

Other 2026 football previews

Lewis Mills