East Rutherford, NJ – The New York Giants and Gatorade have selected Mr. Chris Anderson of Naugatuck High School (Naugatuck, CT) as the Lou Rettino High School Coach of the Week for Week 6 of the 2026 season. The Greyhounds defeated Gilbert/Northwestern/Housatonic, 37-8, on Friday to improve to 4-0, and earn Coach Anderson his 100th career head coaching victory.
The Lou Rettino High School Football Coach of the Week Award is part of the Giants' continuing effort to support local high school football programs. The Giants elected to name the award in memory of former Union High School (NJ) coach, Lou Rettino, for his fine commitment to the game of football, his community and the betterment of his athletes' lives. Each week during the high school football season, the Giants select one area high school head coach as the Coach of the Week winner. The selection is based on the coach's continuing commitment towards promoting high school football, developing motivated student-athletes and contributing overall to their community.
In recognition of Coach Anderson's selection as Coach of the Week, a $2,000 grant from The Giants Foundation and Gatorade will be presented to the school's football program. He will also receive a certificate of recognition, signed by Giants Head Coach John Harbaugh, and will be honored at a postseason dinner and at a 2027 preseason home game.
Chris Anderson has built a distinguished coaching career in Connecticut high school football and has helped restore Naugatuck High School to prominence since taking over the Greyhounds program in 2021. A veteran coach with decades of experience, Anderson helped coach ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky to a Class LL state championship as an assistant coach at Shelton High School in 2001. He also
served as head coach at Woodland Regional High School, where he guided the Hawks to back-to-back Connecticut Class SS State Championships in 2004 and 2005. Anderson was recognized as the Connecticut Post Area Coach of the Year in 2004 and the Waterbury Olympian Club Coach of the Year in 2005. He also served as an assistant coach and offensive coordinator at the University of New Haven. Since arriving at Naugatuck, Anderson has quickly turned the Greyhounds into one of the strongest programs in the Naugatuck Valley League. His teams posted records of 9-2 in 2021, 8-3 in 2022, 10-1 in 2023, and 9-2 in 2024, earning four consecutive Class L playoff appearances and compiling an overall record of 40-14 through his first six seasons at the school. His teams have now won a combined five Naugatuck League Championships - two with Woodland Regional High School and three with Naugatuck High School. Naugatuck's four wins to start the 2026 season equals their win total from 2025, which was Anderson's first season missing the playoffs at Naugatuck.
"I am honored and humbled to be named the Lou Rettino High School Coach of the Week," said Anderson. "I would like to thank the New York Giants for selecting me, and for their continued support of high school football programs. As a coach, I strive to develop young people into hard-working role models. I also strive to win football games and championships for our community. A huge "thank you" goes to all of my assistant coaches and tremendous athletes that I've had the pleasure of coaching throughout my career. You are the reason for my 100th win, for the successes we have had, and for this award."
