Buscetto details his reasons for declining job in email

The following is an email former St. Bernard Athletic Director Bill Buscetto sent to The Bulletin on Monday.

At this time I will not be accepting St. Bernard's latest offer to return to work as the athletic director of my alma mater. I wanted to let all those families know where I stood as many of them have been asking me for the past few weeks.

As you can imagine, these past seven weeks have been very difficult for me, my wife and my two children with all the uncertainty regarding my future at St. Bernard.

Nothing is more important to me than all the friendships I have made with the families of the St. Bernard community, and words will never be able to describe how appreciative my wife and I are for all the support we have received from the students, faculty, alumni, coaches, parents and the general public in regards to this situation.

Certainly, for me it makes all the hours and hard work justified, as well as the monetary donations, and will also reinforce my decision to spend the rest of my life dedicated to working with kids to give them opportunities and experiences that are rewarding.

There does come a time, however, that a person must stand up for what is right and just, and not just settle, and that is what I am doing now in regards to declining being reinstated as athletic director as it was offered.

There is nothing more I would love to do than to return to St. Bernard as the athletic director and head baseball coach, but the only way I can do that is if I am treated fairly and with honesty and integrity.

I hope all of my supporters can appreciate that, and certainly there will much more to come in the very near future.

From my fellow athletic directors in the Eastern Connecticut Conference to the ADs across the state, to the boards across the state that I will still remain involved in, the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference executive board and the Connecticut High School Coaches Association, as well as the CIAC Baseball Committee, your support will always be remembered.

I always tried to put the students and St. Bernard as a whole on the top of my priority list, many times taking time away from my own family to make sure everything was done right and the students had a memorable experience. I never really considered St. Bernard a job, but rather a chance for me to make a indelible difference in the community and with young people.

I feel I have been truly blessed in life with good health, great friends, and an extremely supportive family, who have stood behind me in everything I have ever wanted to do.

It is unfortunate that as it currently stands, I won't be able to finish coaching the current collection of incredible baseball players who are still at St. Bernard. There is no question if the team stays intact they will experience unparalled success over the next few years. Some of the best memories I will take away from St. Bernard will be the laughs and fun we had during each baseball season.

On a personal note, many of the senior faculty at St. Bernard who were so supportive to me not only during my time as a student but as an administrator will never be forgotten. You are truly the backbone of St. Bernard and I appreciate the opportunity to have had worked with you all for the past 4 years.

I would be remiss if I didn't publicly thank James Leone, my assistant baseball coach, former religion teacher, mentor, and most of all very close friend. Jim is perhaps the main reason I accepted the position of athletic director four years ago, when he told me of his ideas and what he thought I would be able to accomplish. I am hopeful we have the opportunity to work together again someday. I am very proud of what we were able to accomplish together at St. Bernard, along with all the other coaches and student-athletes in the athletic department.

St. Bernard won the CIAC Michael's Cup the past two school years, an honor that had never previously been bestowed upon our school in its rich athletic history. For that I thank my coaches and athletes for not only playing well, but always representing themselves and the school in a positive manner.

Lastly, I would like to thank my wife, Diana, who has been incredibly supportive during this ordeal. She is not only my wife but my best friend in life and without her blessings and support over the years, I wouldn't have been able to do all the things I love to do.