There is a timelessness to the baseball field at Xavier High School, the kind of place where memories seem etched into the grass and dirt. The outfield fence tells stories of championships, of boys becoming men, and of lessons that last a lifetime. At its heart is the name "Rich Magner," carved in tribute to a man whose legacy is as enduring as the game itself.
This spring, that legacy grows even richer. Rich Magner ’69, a Xavier graduate whose journey spans from the chalked baselines of Randolph Road to the bright lights of the Los Angeles Dodgers farm system, will be inducted into the Connecticut High School Coaches Association (CHSCA) Hall of Fame. It is a fitting honor for a man whose life has been defined by teaching, mentoring, and winning not just games but also the respect and admiration of everyone fortunate enough to cross his path.
After graduating from Xavier, Magner pursued a dream that began with a boyhood love of baseball. He spent nine seasons in the Dodgers minor league system, earning a World Series ring as proof of that life and gaining a wealth of experience along the way. In the end, the pull of home was stronger. Magner came back to Middletown and returned to the school that shaped him, ready to give something greater than himself.
For two decades, Magner roamed the sidelines and the dugouts. His booming voice and keen eye pushed players to be their best. He coached basketball for 21 years, just as he once played it on these same courts, and he led the baseball program from 1995 to 2014. On the diamond, his Falcons were a powerhouse. They won two Southern Connecticut Conference (SCC) championships, seven SCC Division championships, totaled 293 wins, and impacted countless young lives under his steady guidance.
“Coach Magner is a coaching legend. He has more baseball knowledge than any other person I have ever met. He has forgotten more about baseball than most people will ever know in their lifetime,” Xavier Interim Head of School and current baseball coach Nick Cerreta ’01 said. “Most importantly, Coach Magner spent decades developing players into fine young men with the utmost character and integrity. Some of his players went on to play at higher levels, but all his players went on to be great fathers, husbands, sons, and friends due to Coach’s guidance, leadership, and love for them. He will always be my mentor and I am a better coach and man today from all that he has taught me.”
It was not just about the wins. For Magner, it was about teaching the game and the lessons beyond it. The field named in his honor is more than a monument to his success. It is a tribute to his character and the countless hours he spent shaping young athletes into responsible and driven individuals.
This spring, when his name is called, it will not just be an induction. It will be a celebration of a man who gave everything to a community, to a school, and to the students who walked the same halls he did.