SCHOOLS

Calhoun’s got coach’s back

Posted

Football players donned red wristbands and cheerleaders red ribbons at Calhoun High School’s Sept. 27 home game in a show of support for Joe Bianca, a Calhoun special-education teacher and former head football coach who this summer survived a stroke, when a blood clot interrupts blood flow to the brain.

Bianca was a fixture at the game — the first ever played on Calhoun’s new synthetic turf field — handling the midfield coin toss, reuniting with students and colleagues on Calhoun’s sideline, and offering words of encouragement for players.

Calhoun athletes wore red because the color is associated with stroke awareness efforts. In the week preceding the game, Calhoun staff members distributed information about the warning signs of a stroke.

Bianca suffered his stroke on July 26. A helicopter rushed him to Stony Brook University Medical Center, where he underwent emergency brain surgery. Since then, Bianca has been recovering and making plans to return to work at Calhoun.

The Calhoun Colts were victorious on Sept. 27, defeating the Herricks Highlanders 34-7.