Since taking over the Staples Baseball program in 2005, Coach McFarland has established the Wreckers as one of Connecticut’s most successful programs.
Under his leadership, the Wreckers have reached seven FCIAC Championship games (2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2018, and 2019), winning four FCIAC Championships. His teams have also made six Class LL State Championship appearances over a 10-year span, capturing State Championships in 2017, 2019, and 2026.
Coach McFarland was named FCIAC Baseball Coach of the Year in 2009 and received the Coaching Award from the Westport Sportsmen in 2011. In 2019, he earned three major FCIAC honors: Baseball Coach of the Year, Spring Coach of the Year, and Coach of the Year for All Sports. In 2026, Coach McFarland was inducted into the FCIAC Hall of Fame.
He also serves as a member of the CIAC Baseball Committee and represents the FCIAC on the CHSCA Committee.
The 2015 season saw the Wreckers qualify for a school-record eighth consecutive FCIAC Tournament and tie the school record with 22 wins. Staples advanced to both the FCIAC and Class LL State Championship games while also claiming the Central Division title.
In 2017, Staples made history by winning the program’s first Class LL State Championship and finishing the season ranked No. 1 in the final state poll. Coach McFarland earned his 200th career victory in the State Championship game with a 5–1 win over Amity. The 2017 Staples team was also honored as Westport Sportspersons of the Year by the Fairfield County Sports Commission.
The success continued in 2018, when the Wreckers finished 19–6, won the division championship, advanced to the State quarterfinals, and finished as FCIAC runners-up.
The 2019 season was another record-setting year for Staples Baseball. The Wreckers finished 25–3 and became the first team since 1986 to win both the FCIAC and Class LL State Championships in the same season. Staples finished ranked No. 1 in Connecticut and broke the school record for wins, previously set in 2015, with 25 victories. The Wreckers also finished in the final Top 10 state poll for the fourth time in five years.
In 2023, the Wreckers added another division championship, produced the Gatorade Player of the Year, and advanced to the Class LL State Championship game.
Staples returned to the State Final in 2024, marking the program’s fifth appearance in nine seasons. That year, Coach McFarland also recorded his 300th career victory.
The 2026 season added another historic chapter to Staples Baseball. The Wreckers captured the school’s 150th State Championship across all sports and the baseball program’s fourth State Championship, winning a dramatic 3–2 extra-inning game to claim the Class LL title. Coach McFarland was also inducted into the FCIAC Hall of Fame in 2026.
Since Coach McFarland’s arrival in 2005, numerous Staples players have earned All-Conference, All-State, All-Region, Player of the Year, and All-American recognition. The program has produced three Gatorade Players of the Year, earning the honor in 2017, 2019, and 2023.
Since 2010, five former Staples players have also been selected in the MLB Draft.
In addition to his work with the baseball program, Coach McFarland served as an assistant coach for Staples Football from 1995 through 2017. In 2004, he was named the CHSCA Assistant Coach of the Year.
Coach McFarland currently serves as an Assistant Dean at Staples. He resides in Monroe with his wife, Norma, and their four daughters.
Head Coach: 2005–Present
Overall Record: 342–163 (67% winning percentage)
FCIAC Champions:
2008, 2009, 2011, 2019
FCIAC Regular Season Champions:
2009 (14–4), 2010 (16–2), 2014 (16–2), 2019 (14–2)
FCIAC Runners-Up:
2006, 2015, 2018
Division Champions:
2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2023, 2026
Class LL State Finalists:
2015, 2023, 2024
Class LL State Champions:
2017, 2019, 2026
Bob “Buzz” Buswell enters his 10th season at Staples, bringing 35 years of coaching experience at every level of the game. His coaching résumé includes Pomperaug High School, Milford Academy, Brookfield High School, the University of Bridgeport, Trumbull Travel, Trumbull American Legion, and the CT Sharks. A standout player himself, Buswell played high school ball at Trumbull High under legendary coach Gerry McDougall before continuing his career collegiately at Flagler College, Housatonic Community College, and Eastern Connecticut State University.
During his tenure at Staples, Buswell has helped 30 players achieve their dream of playing college or professional baseball — and over the course of his career, more than 100 of his players have gone on to play at the college or professional level. Three of his players have been named CT State Player of the Year: Chad Knight (Gatorade), Hiro Wyatt (Gatorade), and Jules Cicero (CHSCA).
Coach Avery returns for his 16th season coaching high school baseball and his 9th at Staples High School. Coach Avery has been the first base coach/bench coach for six seasons at Staples High School. Coach Avery works as a hitting instructor, outfielder instructor and specializes in offensive tactics and defensive strategies. He was an assistant baseball coach at Saint Joseph High School for five seasons before his tenure at Staples High School. He has also coached various teams for the Trumbull Legion baseball program from 2006-2010. He was recognized as the 2007 Junior Legion Coach of the Year after winning a state championship and regional runner-up. Coach Avery also coached football at Saint Joseph High School, Staples High School and Stratford High School. His previous stint was as the Defensive Coordinator for the Stratford High School football team in 2015. In 2026 Keith was named CHSCA Assistant Coach of the Year !He was a three-year starter in the outfield for the Quinnipiac University baseball team where he was the captain in 2003. He teaches Physical Education and Health at Stratford High School and resides in Trumbull, CT with his wife Danielle and two children.
Coach Kevin is a 1986 graduate of Brien McMahon High School, where he was a standout athlete in both football and baseball.
Following high school, Kevin continued his baseball career at Seton Hall University, pitching for three seasons and earning All-American honors as well as Big East Pitcher of the Year. After his junior season, he was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the first round of the MLB Draft. Kevin went on to pitch in the Major Leagues for the Red Sox and enjoyed a nine-year professional baseball career.
After retiring from professional baseball, Kevin transitioned into the corporate world, holding various executive positions with Conair Corporation. During that time, he also remained closely involved with the game as the lead pitching instructor at IST, sharing his professional experience and knowledge with developing players.
Kevin lives in Norwalk with his wife, Dana. Their daughter, Taylor, and son, Korey, are both graduates of the University of Connecticut. Korey followed in his father’s baseball footsteps, becoming a three-year starter for nationally ranked UConn teams and recording 200 career hits as an outfielder. He later went on to play professional baseball in the Houston Astros organization.
Kevin brings a wealth of experience to the field as a former All-American, Major League pitcher, professional player, and longtime pitching instructor.
A 2017 graduate of Trumbull High School, Jack Lynch was named All-FCIAC Honorable Mention as a Senior. He went on to play undergrad at Ithaca College where he was a four year starting SS and team captain. He then transferred to Manhattan College where he was named a team captain and a 2nd team All-MAAC selection. Jack continued on into the professional ranks, playing SS for the MLB Draft League’s Trenton Thunder this past summer. He will continue his professional playing career with the Pioneer League’s Great Falls Voyagers this summer in Great Falls, Montana.
Coach Carew has 26 years of coaching experience with over 2500 games under his belt. In addition to his coaching accolades, he was a 4-year starting pitcher at Springfield College, earning 3rd in all-time school wins. He started in game 1 of the ’94 Division II College World Series and played in over 1500 Amateur games
Coach Cusa is a Staples Baseball Alumni joining the Coaching Staff for his first year.
Coach Trani joined the Staples Coaching Squad in January of 2026. This is his first season with Staples.
