Tautkus Returns To Lead Ellington High School Football Program

ELLINGTON, CT — A familiar face will once again be roaming the football sidelines at Ellington next season, as founding coach Keith Tautkus returns to his former longtime spot at the helm of the Knights' gridiron program.

A 1974 Ellington graduate, Tautkus has been a technology education teacher at his alma mater for 24 years. In 1999, he was instrumental in developing the high school football program, and served as head coach of the Ellington-Somers co-op team for more than a dozen years. He also coached Knights baseball for 22 seasons.

"Very excited and humbled to be coming back to Ellington as the head football coach, particularly this year because of COVID being our 20th varsity season," he told Patch. "A lot of great players have gone through the system. I think being away for a while has given me even a better appreciation of what this program means to me and all those who have coached and played here."

"Coach Tautkus is one of those individuals that make you a better person just by knowing him," athletic director Tim McCluskey said. "The opportunity for our athletes to learn from him is a windfall not only for our football program but for our entire community. We are excited to have Coach Tautkus back as our head football coach."

Superintendent of Schools Scott Nicol said, "Coach Taukus is a highly respected member of the Ellington family. He has been effective coaching both football and baseball at EHS by instilling a competitive spirit balanced with sportsmanship as aligned with Ellington’s Seeds of Civility. We are very fortunate to be in receipt of his services."

Tautkus stepped down from coaching following the 2012 season, in order to be able to watch his son Austin play at Western Connecticut State University. He compiled an 83-42 record, including 9-2 and an appearance in the Class M playoffs in his final year with the Knights.

After Austin was killed in a tragic accident in June 2014, Tautkus got a call from Western Connecticut head coach Joe Loth, inviting him to help at a summer camp.

"The opportunity to be at WCSU with the football team and coaching was very rewarding and educational so much so, I ended up staying at WCSU for four years coaching the defensive line. I’ll always be grateful to Coach Loth for providing the opportunity of continuing my coaching career."

Tautkus joined the staff of head coach Erick Knickerbocker at Rockville High School in 2018, and worked with him for three seasons.

Knickerbocker said, "Keith Tautkus is Ellington football; he helped start the program and the program means everything to him. We were so grateful to have Keith work with us here at Rockville the past three years and know he will do a great job with the Knights. Keith came to Rockville to help mentor me, and I would have been lost without his guidance and support these past three years. I will miss working with Keith on a daily basis, but look forward to the Battle of Route 83 taking on an even new dimension next year."

"We have a special relationship, and it was one of the most rewarding coaching experiences that I have had in my career," Tautkus said. "He has done a great job in turning that program around. It was a tough decision to leave Rockville, but the opportunity to return home was just too exciting to turn down."

Ellington has been on its own since 2015, when Somers joined a tri-op with Stafford and East Windsor. The Knights initially continued their success following Tautkus' departure, posting a 30-12 record from 2013 through 2016, with a return appearance in the Class M playoffs in 2014. However, the past three years have been a struggle, with a combined record of 9-21. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, no games were played in 2020.

"I’m looking forward to the future of working with my staff and a great bunch of players," he told Patch. "We will work hard at having a great culture, and we will build relationships with coaches to coaches and coaches with players. We will create an environment which will allow coaches and players to reach their full potential on and off the field. In addition, we will work with the community, particularly the youth football program, so that we will have a positive impact on those future Knights."

He said the process is already underway, with the staff nearly completed, a lifting program having started and a player/parent introduction meeting scheduled for April 27.

"I am as excited today as I was 20 years ago to keep moving this program in the right direction," he said. "Once a Knight, always a Knight."

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