Ronga hired as Laramie’s next head football coach

Paul Ronga, a veteran high school football coach who’s spent nearly three decades coaching in New York, will be the next head coach for the Laramie Plainsmen.

The Albany County School District announced Ronga’s hiring on its website Friday.

The district release said Ronga has spent more than 25 years in coaching, all in New York. Most recently, he was the head coach at Walter Panas High School in Cortlandt Manor, New York, last year. He was also the head coach at Saunders High School in Yonkers, New York, from 2013-17; Lincoln High School in Yonkers, in 1997; and Iona Grammar School in New Rochelle, New York, in 1992.

Ronga takes over a Laramie program that hasn’t had a winning season since finishing as Class 4A runners-up in 2000.

“I am aware of the challenge ahead of me, and I will do all I can to give back to the community and to Laramie High School,” Ronga said in the release. “I have been a fan of Wyoming sports for many years, and I respect the excellent sports programs that Laramie High School has under (activities director) Ron Wagner. … I hope to work hand in hand with the assistants, players, administration, community, and Mr. Wagner to do all we can to rebuild and restore Laramie High School football and Plainsmen pride.”

Ronga has been involved in coaching high school football since 1992, the district release said. He also had high school coaching experience at Lakeland High School in Shrub Oak, New York; Walter Panas High School; Haldane High School in Cold Spring, New York; Lincoln High School in Yonkers, New York; and Westlake High School in Thornwood, N.Y. He also was the president and coach of the Cortlandt Manor youth football organization, the Cortlandt Panthers, for four years.

Ronga was a running back at Marist College, finishing his career in 1988.

“He has close, personal connections to Laramie and has a passion and excitement for football that is contagious,” Wagner said in the release. “His preparation and attention to detail was evident during the hiring process and will serve LHS and the football program well.”

Class 1A nine-man program Greybull is the only other Wyoming program seeking a new head football coach at this point. If you know of other head coaching changes in the state, please email me at pschmiedt@yahoo.com.

–patrick