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Winchester High School Principal Paula Conis confirmed to Winchester News on July 23 that Wayne Puglisi is the school’s new director of athletics succeeding Marc Arria, who officially stepped down as the Red & Black sports boss at the conclusion of this past school year after a dozen years on the job.
Throughout the last four years, Puglisi was the Andover Public School’s athletic director. Before that, he was a physical education teacher in its system since 1998.
Puglisi had also served in various roles in youth, high school and international athletics that included a stint right here at WHS as a lacrosse coach.
To say the least, he has definitely been a mover and shaker in the sport of lacrosse. Some of the titles that he has held – and in some cases continues to hold – were as a Northeast Regional Director of the Mass. Bay Youth Lacrosse League; Andover Town Pride Lacrosse League coordinator for boys in Grades 3-8; and Merrimack Valley Conference boys lacrosse representative.
He was also president of the EMass Lacrosse Coaches Association from 2009-19. But in addition to the latter two roles, he’s a MIAA seeding committee member for boys lacrosse, as well.
On the international front, he is an Italian national lacrosse program board member that coordinates Italian-Americans and Italian Nationals to participate in European and domestic tournaments.
The following was taken from the Andover High School website: “In his time at Andover, Wayne has demonstrated extraordinary leadership, (while) earning the esteem of our coaches, parents, student-athletes, athletic staff (members) and colleagues across the school district.”
These are all worthy attributes that will certainly make the transition going from one Division 1 school to another easier for him.
Joe McConnell is a longtime, award-winning sports editor for numerous North Shore publications. He began covering Winchester sports for the News in November 2024 and is currently its Sports Editor. He can be reached at editor@winchesternews.org.
