To honor the memory of Howie Vandersea, the former Northeast Regional Director of the National Football Foundation. He was a football man who embodied all of the best virtues of our organization. He held a deep passion to selflessly serve others. One of Howie’s endeavors was to help those suffering from food insecurity. Each year, the chapter will bestow a monetary donation to our top scoring student-athlete’s food charity of choice. Executive Committee members and the student-athlete will actively volunteer their services to carry on his legacy.
In Loving memory of Coach Jude Kelly August 27, 1952 - February 14, 2026.
“Do Something, Blame No One, Expect Nothing.”
Coach Jude Kelly’s legacy spans 50 years across SCSU, East Catholic, Southington, St. Paul Catholic and Weaver High Schools. Beyond the wins and championships, Coach was a builder of men, teams and families. He taught us to always “leave things better than we found them - a mindset that bonded us as Owls, Eagles, Blue Knights, Falcons and Beavers.
He believed that talent matters, but character carries a team. He lived with significance, taught with integrity, and always reminded us, “Champions do the work in the shadows.”
Congratulations to the 2025-26 Scholar-Athlete Class
The Doc Boisoneau Northern CT Chapter of the National Football Foundation will celebrate with Class of 2025-26 at our annual Awards banquet on May 17. 2026. Congratulations to all of our Honorees. Their names and awards are listed below.
High School Scholar - Athletes Honored
Adult Awards:
The DBNCCNFF is a non profit educational organization that runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in high school football.
Meet Gil “Doc Boisoneau
The National Football Foundation is a non-profit organization designed
to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship, and
athletic achievement in young people. Few people have accomplished this goal
with the passion, commitment, dedication, perseverance, dignity, and longevity
as our Chapter’s namesake, Doc Boisoneau.
The Gil "Doc" Boisoneau Northern Connecticut Chapter National Football
Foundation and College Hall of Fame!
Who We Are
The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame, INC. (NFF) is a member supported, non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the future of amateur football at the local, state, and national levels. Since its beginnings in 1947, the Foundation has relied upon the support of volunteers to bring its mission and goals to communities all across the nation. Today, thanks to more than 100,000 volunteers who generously became members over the past 67 years, the National Football Foundation has grown to more than 120 chapters with a presence in 48 states.
There is no prerequisite football experience required to become a member; in fact, many of our members never even played organized football. Our membership base includes nearly every profession, race, religion and creed. Our members are men and women, fans, parents, players, coaches, referees, administrators. They work as educators, business people, doctors, sales people, laborers, policeman, firefighters, politicians, engineers, etc. Our members have served our country’s highest office, walked on the moon, led our soldiers in battle, won the Heisman Trophy, ruled on the U.S. Supreme Court, coached in Super Bowls and National Championship games built financial empires, made movies, saved lives and imparted wisdom. Our members share one common bond: their love of amateur football.
Today, our current national membership base tops 12,000 – and we are growing. As membership increases, so does the overall strength of the Foundation. At the local level, The Northern CT Chapter, has 23 current members. We hope to double that to 50 members by year’s end. A 1-year membership is $60 and a 3-year membership is $150. Your support helps widen our span of influence, allowing the Foundation to expand its positive effects on the game, our communities and our young people.
Our Mission
To inspire young people to excellence; holding up the greatest players and coaches in the history of the game as role models and enshrining them and their achievements in the College Football Hall of Fame.
To get young people, and those who influence them, excited and motivated about the game of football. In particular, managing the College Football Hall of Fame in such a way as to dramatize the history, exhilaration and value of the game to an ever broadening audience of fans and potential fans.
To develop, manage, and promote model football programs, which further strengthen the educational and character building qualities of the game. To honor, publicize and provide financial support high school and college football players who represent our ideal of the scholar-athlete.
To continue a grassroots movement, through our chapter, while involving football fans, coaches, educators, the media and former players in the promotion of an alumni association. Through this mission, The Northern CT Chapter will continue to develop leadership, sportsmanship, competitive spirit, and academic excellence in America’s youth through promoting amateur football.
What We Do
Host an annual College Football Coaches Night & Open House on the 2nd Tuesday in December. This night provides an opportunity for the student-athletes and their parents to have contact with college coaches from divisions 2 & 3. The evening is a good way to begin their college search process.
We participate annually in the New England Football Coaches Clinic held in February. This provides us with an opportunity for exposure to a large audience and the opportunity to increase our membership base. All new members will receive a complimentary pass to attend the clinic that year.
Host and honor deserving high school & college student athletes with our chapter’s scholar-athlete award at our annual scholar-athlete banquet held in May. This annual celebration allows us to hold up the values of academic excellence, athletic achievement, and community service, thus celebrating effective football programs, model coaches and the high school athletes who thrive in them. We also honor coaches, citizens, referees, and distinguished alumni for their significant support and achievement in amateur football.
Gil “Doc” Boisoneau
The National Football Foundation is a non-profit organization designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship, and athletic achievement in young people. Few people have accomplished this goal with the passion, commitment, dedication, perseverance, dignity, and longevity as our Chapter’s namesake, Doc Boisoneau.
Gil “Doc” Boisoneau was a past president and vice president of the Northern Connecticut Chapter of the National Football Foundation and was inducted into the chapter’s hall of fame in 1998. In 2017 the chapter was renamed, The Doc Boisoneau Northern Connecticut Chapter.
“Doc” Boisoneau is a retired dentist in the local area. He has spent a large part of his life playing, coaching, and supporting football. “Doc” played football at Manchester High and was a running back. He went on to coach at East Catholic in Manchester and Glastonbury High. “Doc” coached many area young leagues throughout the years and was on the board of Manchester Midget Football. After spending most of his life enjoying the game of football, he was inducted into the Manchester Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.