Robert Taborsak


Taborsak      Robert Taborsak



Cross Country, 1956

This legendary cross country coach and teacher won seven straight FCIAC cross country titles in the 1990’s, 2018 Danbury High School Hall of Fame inductee Robert Taborsak.  An accomplished runner himself, Bob moved to Danbury from Brooklyn as a high school sophomore.  For two seasons, he and Jimmy Murphy led the Hatters to back-to-back cross country league titles.  The team finished third in the state both years.  After his graduation from Danbury High School in 1956, Bob continued his academic and athletic career at the University of Connecticut, where he was the track captain in 1960.

After his college graduation in 1961, Bob returned to Danbury to begin his forty year teaching and coaching career.  From 1961-1978, Bob was the assistant cross country coach under Dan O’Grady.  He was the head cross country coach from 1979 until his retirement.  He coached Danbury High School track as an assistant from 1961-1972 and was the head coach from 1972-1987.  During his coaching years, Bob had a 250-53 cross country dual meet record, an 83% winning percentage.  The Hatters had four consecutive undefeated seasons and five total unbeaten seasons under Coach Taborsak.  Danbury High also won eight western divisional and seven FCIAC titles.  Under Coach Taborsak, individual Hatters or the team went to New England’s in 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, and 1998.  In 1995 Coach Taborsak was the CITCA Cross Country Coach of the Year. 

After his retirement in 2002, Bob continues his service to the Danbury community as a driver for the Cancer Society, a “Reading Buddy” at South Street and Great Plain Schools, at the Dorothy Day House, and as an assistant coach for a youth running club, the Danbury Flyers. The late Coach Dan O’Grady was quoted in the News-Times about Coach Taborask, “Unfortunately, there are not many who stay in teaching and coaching this long anymore.  I have never seen him in a sour mood.  He truly loves coaching and teaching as witnessed by his lengthy career.  He was a dedicated teacher, and I’ve always maintained that good coaching is simply good teaching.”  Robert Taborsak was a great runner, teacher, coach, volunteer and now, 2018 Danbury High School Hall of Fame inductee.