MIDDLETOWN, Conn. - The Wesleyan football team has completed the hiring of a pair of assistant coaches for the 2023 season. Dario Highsmith '20 will coach the wide receivers and Peter Ladas joins the staff as a defensive backs coach.

The additions of Highsmith and Ladas complete the Cardinals' coaching staff for the new season as Wesleyan looks to continue a run of nine straight seasons with a winning record.
 

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Dario Highsmith '20 | Wide Receivers

Highsmith brings a well-rounded background to the role of receiver coach at Wesleyan. As the 2013 Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year, Dario's playing experiences laid a strong foundation for his journey. He was a four-year starter at Wesleyan (2016-19) and part of the two Little Three Championship teams (2016 and 2019) in his four years.
 
Dario's coaching career started upon graduation in 2020 as the receivers coach at Don Bosco Prep, offering him the chance to work with one of the elite high school programs in the country. He also co-founded Sideline Hustle, supporting over 50 NFL athletes, training and working with NFL wide receivers and tight ends the past three years.

Head Coach Dan DiCenzo on Highsmith - "Dario was a great leader and player for us at Wesleyan.  He was willing to do whatever the team needed even if it might not have been in his best personal interest.  He started at TB and WR and was a very physical player.  He was a leader on and off the field and it has been a pleasure to watch him continue to thrive after college.  We are fortunate to add him to our staff as he brings great value and will be a great addition to our WR room."

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Peter Ladas | Defensive Backs

 Ladas enters his first season as defensive backs coach at Wesleyan. Peter has spent 11 years coaching high school football in Connecticut. He has coached as a defensive assistant at his alma-mater, Berlin High School, for four years where he was part of two state championship runner-up teams in 2012 and 2014. He also spent seven years as a high school defensive coordinator; three at Coginchaug Regional High School and most-recently four years at Glastonbury High School where he helped lead the program to its first state-semifinal appearance since 2012.

Outside of football, Ladas is a physical education and health teacher at Haddam-Killingworth High School and is a graduate of Central Connecticut State University with a B.S in physical education.

Coach DiCenzo on Ladas - "I have know Pete for a long time and have been very impressed with how he has coached at the High school level.  Pete loves to talk football and is a tireless worker.  When the opportunity opened to get Pete on our staff I was really excited.  He does a great job working with student-athletes and loved the game of football."