(via WCSU) — On February 6th, Western Connecticut State University lost a member of its football team coaching staff. Defensive backs coach Sean Salisbury, 30, died in a one-car accident on Mill Plain Road.
Head coach Joe Loth expressed that Salisbury had a strong mentoring relationship with his players. “He is going to be so missed within our football team. We want to wish his family our deepest sympathy and hope they truly understand what a tremendous impact he had on us as coaches and our players.”
Salisbury spent two years coaching the linebackers and one year coaching the defensive backs at Plymouth State University. Following that, Salisbury served as the linebacker and running backs’ coach and later defensive coordinator at Coventry High School in Rhode Island. In the spring of 2020, Salisbury joined the WCSU coaching staff as the defensive backs coach. During his time at Plymouth, Salisbury coached two All Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) players and one MASCAC Rookie of the Year. He also helped the Panthers win the 2017 MASCAC title.
Salisbury attended Simsbury High School in Connecticut and Castleton University in Vermont. He played football at served as an assistant coach at both.
Peter Bencivengo, a player on the WestConn team, was directly coached by Salisbury. “He was one of the hardest working guys I knew and his passion for coaching resonated with all of us,” Bencivengo said. “He left an impact on this team that we will take with us for years to come. I am blessed to have known him and to have been coached by him. We loved having him be a part of the family and we will miss him tremendously.”
“Losing a member of our university family is always difficult,” said WCSU President Dr. John B. Clark. “Sean will be greatly missed but certainly remembered for his outstanding work with our student athletes.”