University of Vermont Athletic Hall of Fame
David G. Lucaroni 1970 - Baseball, Football
Back in 1966, UVM's Little All-America running back Bob Mitchell tore up the New England collegiate football circuit, gaining a school record 1,207 yards. The man who made the key blocks that sent Mitchell scampering through the secondary never received his due until his most deserving induction into the UVM Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990.
David Lucaroni - only a sophomore in 1966 - was the offensive tackle who had the responsibility time and time again to pick off the opponent's defensive end, allowing "Mitch" to follow his lead guard, Dan Martin, into the secondary.
"Dave was truly one of the very best," said Rick Farnham, UVM's assistant athletic director and a former teammate. "It was his aggressive blocks out of his tackle position that set the way for Mitchell's many long runs. He was the fastest lineman I every played with - or saw during my years coaching," added Farnham.
Although many linemen sometimes go unnoticed (it's the liability of playing on the offensive line), Dave's exploits were recognized by the Yankee Conference football coaches. He was twice named to the All-Yankee Conference squad, in 1968 and 1969. Dave captained the 1968 football squad under head football coach Bob Clifford. He also played one season for the varsity baseball team.
Dave has been at Taconic (Mass.) High School for 21 years, where he is now Department Chairman of Human Development and Physical Education. He has been a successful coach in football and softball and for the last four seasons, has led the Taconic baseball team to three Western Massachusetts Baseball tournament appearances.
In 1974, the Springfield Union tabbed Lucaroni Coach of the Year after the Taconic High School football team went 8-0-1. His Taconic High School teams went 27-5-3, capturing three league titles and state championship. Dave also coached the school's softball team, winning three league titles and two county championships. He also served as the head football coach at Lee (Mass.) High School for two seasons (teams went 13-3-1, winning one league title) and in 1981, spent one season as head football coach at Siena College in Loudonville, NY. Dave and his wife, Ann, and daughter, Beth, live in Lenox, Mass.
