Submitted by Barth Keck, Asst. Coach.
Haddam-Killingworth head football coach Mike Baklik is stepping down after six years at the helm.
“It’s been a wonderful run,” said Baklik, who was named Pequot Conference Coach of the Year in 2017. “I’ve been blessed with strong support from the school, a first-rate staff, and just some great kids. I’m going to miss it.”
Baklik said his decision is based on the need to spend more time with his family, noting he and his wife Courtney are expecting their second child this spring.
“I won’t be totally absent from the team,” said the coach, who is a physical education and health teacher at the school. “I will help out behind the scenes in any way I can. I just can’t devote the time required to be a head coach.”
Baklik is only the second head football coach in school history, taking over in 2014 for HK icon Dennis O’Rourke, who started the program in 1977. Baklik, an HK alum, played football for O’Rourke and worked as an assistant on his staff for six years before O’Rourke retired. Baklik played his college football at Endicott.
In his six years as head coach, Baklik compiled a 32-32 record and led the team to its second-ever appearance in a state championship final last year where it lost the Class S game to Bloomfield. HK’s 11-2 record in 2018 was the best in program history.
Among other notable program achievements during the 2018 season was the team’s Sassacus Division championship in the Pequot Conference and a school record 4,061 team rushing yards.
Baklik coached some of the most prolific performers in HK football history, including Dalton Modehn, who rushed for a school-record 2,891 yards in his career, including this year’s 404-yard effort against Coventry/Windham RVT/Bolton/Lyman Memorial in which he scored seven touchdowns.
In addition, Alex Segaline broke school records for single-game passing (329 yards in 2015), single-season passing (1,844 yards in 2015), and career passing (3,135 yards, 2014-16).
Under Baklik’s leadership, five Cougar football players have been named to the all-state team.
“I could not have asked for a better situation when I took the job,” said Baklik. “The support from both the school and the community – in particular from our Touchdown Club – has been nothing short of outstanding.”
Photo by Chad Giulini.
