Bill O'Brien has decided to step down after 10 years as Commissioner of the Southern Connecticut Conference (SCC). O'Brien, who has served as Commissioner since the league's inception in 1994, will be replaced by Al Carbone.

In his tenure, O'Brien has seen the SCC develop into one of the premier high school conferences in the state. Entering the 2004 spring season, SCC schools have won a total of 194 state championships in those 10 years.

In addition, O'Brien has been instrumental in fund-raising, securing nearly $225,000 in corporate sponsorships for the league's various academic, athletic, and artistic activities such as Diversity Training, Arts Exhibitions, Scholar-Leader Dinners, and Captains Luncheons.

A Vice-President for Business Banking at New Alliance Bank and well-known community figure, O'Brien, a resident of Branford, will remain in an advisory capacity with the SCC working with the new Commissioner to ensure a smooth transition.

"We are indebted to Bill for his efforts as SCC commissioner," League President and Fairfield Prep Principal Bob Perrotta said. "He is a true gentleman and was a pleasure to work with."

Carbone, a former standout student-athlete at East Haven High School and Trinity College, brings a variety of credentials to the position. A former collegiate athletics administrator, Carbone is currently a Marketing Communications Specialist at The United Illuminating Company.

Extremely active in the New Haven community, Carbone currently serves as Chairman of the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce Sports Council, Vice-Chairman of the Greater New Haven Sports Commission, Public Relations Chair for the Walter Camp Football Foundation, and is a member of the Board of Directors for Liberty Community Services, a non-profit housing agency.

A graduate of the New Haven Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class of 2003, Carbone was also a recipient of the New Haven Business Times "Forty Under 40" Community Service Award.

Carbone, 31, who recently earned his Master's of Business Administration degree from the University of New Haven, resides in Stratford with his wife Tracey and daughter Calyn.

The Southern Connecticut Conference consists of 21 schools. Starting in the fall of 2004, two Milford schools - Foran and Jonathan Law - will join the conference raising membership to 23.

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