After 38 years of working in the Wantagh school district, beloved physical education teacher and coach Mr. Bujacich has announced his retirement. Following his retirement from teaching, however, Bujacich intends to continue coaching girls’ varsity basketball and middle school football. 

Bujacich, known to all as Coach B, has coached the girls’ varsity basketball team for the past 27 seasons and his teams have made the playoffs in 26 out of those 27 seasons. Coach B’s teams have won 366 games. 

Yet, when you talk to Coach B, he humbly just wants to talk about his favorite memories he’s made over these years which have included meeting great kids and their families, seeing students excel and enjoying themselves in the classes he teaches, interacting with the “fabulous” faculty and administrators over the years, being able to coach student athletes to reach both their highest potential on their own and team success, and “always driving into work daily, anticipating a great day at Wantagh High School.”

Hired in June 1982, he spent his five years in the district working in the elementary schools. Prior to that, however, he coached full-time and was a substitute teacher from 1981-1982. Following his five years teaching in the elementary schools, he began his 33 years as a physical education teacher at Wantagh High School.

“Stan Bujacich has dedicated almost 4 decades to Wantagh High School as a beloved physical education teacher, drivers education teacher and coach,” said Principal  Carolyn Breivogel.  “Throughout that time he remained steady, efficient, dedicated and loyal to his students, athletes and colleagues. We have come to appreciate how he gives 100 percent to his students. Stan is the consummate gentleman, an unassuming man who would much rather relish in his students’ achievements than his own.”

He is very close with his fellow faculty members, and regards Mrs. Cacesse, Mrs. DiBiasi, Ms. Keane and Mr. Sachs  as being like brothers and sisters to him, remarking on how they are supportive, great people. “Mr. Sachs and myself have been teaching together since 1991,” he said. “We know each other like family.”

“Mr. Bujacich is a truly dedicated Wantagh Warrior,” said Mr. Sachs. “He bleeds black and gold and has a relentless work ethic.” 

His favorite thing about the school is how friendly and respectful the students are. He is also glad that his fellow staff members are warm-hearted and professional. “I was able to meet great families in the community and student athletes that I connected with over the years,” he said. He also commented that he believed Wantagh was a great community that he’s seen grow over the years, and he applauds the parents for doing great jobs at raising their sons and daughters.

“I always loved to play sports, watch sports and keep fit,” says Bujacich in relation to what motivated him to become a physical education teacher. “I knew I was not good enough to play professional sports, so the next best thing was to help others to reach their potential in athletics and take care of themselves  from a physical fitness perspective.” 

Coach B graduated from Wantagh in 1976. He played basketball and baseball here. He graduated from SUNY Cortland in 1981 and played baseball there. 

He enjoys all of the sports offered in the physical education classes he teaches, including weight room work and yoga, but softball especially resonates with him. “Pitching to the students was always a great joy, [especially] seeing them successfully hitting my pitches.”

“I have known Coach B since the late 1980’s when we met on the football field of a JV game between Wantagh and New Hyde Park,” said Mr. Espinosa, a Wantagh Spanish teacher who was a varsity boys’ basketball coach for several years at Wantagh. “Since that day he has been the consummate professional, a gentleman and a good friend. He wants nothing short of the best for any player or team. I will  miss our hoop sessions or rules interpretation sessions we would have.”

For the past six seasons Wantagh 2000 graduate and a captain for Coach B, Erin Colton, has been his assistant coach. Colton has done that while at the same time winning Emmy awards as a News 12 TV reporter and anchor.

“I actually can’t imagine the halls of Wantagh High School, without Mr. B,” said Colton. “His love, passion and drive to always be better, have inspired a generation of students. I’m just proud to be a little part of it as his assistant coach.”

Having coached even before beginning his career teaching in the Wantagh schools, Bujacich has been able to coach a plethora of different sports over the years: middle school baseball, JV baseball, varsity football, middle school football, JV football, JV boys’ basketball, girls JV basketball and varsity girls’ basketball. 

“Coach B. is incredibly dedicated to his Wantagh basketball family,” said W.H.S. English teacher Miss Kathleen Flynn, who has coached JV girls’ basketball for the past four years. “He’s so proud of his current and former players, and there is no one who cares more about his program. I’ve been very fortunate to be a member of the Wantagh girls basketball program that Coach B. has created.”

“Coaching has been a great experience,” Coach B said. “I’ve connected with so many great student athletes and their families over the years.” In addition to continuing to coach basketball and football in retirement, Coach B plans to continue to teach summer driver’s ed classes.

“[I’m] going to miss the faculty and students, the positive energy in the building,” he said. “And I’ll miss the kindness, my daily routines of the day, class schedule and the overall experience in the class setting.”