Canton High School Stadium Renamed After Late Coaching Legend

CANTON, CT — The main home of Canton High School's sports has been renamed in honor of a coaching legend who passed away last year.

The Canton Board of Selectmen approved new names for three key athletics fields in the Canton School System at its last meeting on Aug. 27.

Each vote was 4-0 with one abstention (Selectman Stephen Sedor) and came following public hearings on the proposals that night.

After the board closed the hearings, it approved the following names:

• The Canton Middle/High School stadium was renamed "Nancy Grace Memorial Stadium" in honor of legendary field hockey and softball coach Nancy Grace, who died in 2024 of cancer at 65.

Grace was a veteran physical education and science teacher at CHS, becoming a highly successful coach in the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s.

In fact, Grace won eight state championships for CHS in field hockey and one in softball.

Witkos said the stadium comprises CHS's main football/soccer/track stadium, with the school board supporting the move.

"She had such a touch for so many years, so many kids," said Canton Board of Education Chairman Lou Daniels. "When she passed at an early age, there was an outcry from many people for this type of recognition for her.

"The board of education felt this was an honor that was most deserving of her."

Selectmen said a large amount of community input supported naming the stadium for Grace.

• The Canton Middle/High School turf field was renamed "Legends Field" in honor of the "legendary coaches" on Canton's scholastic athletics programs.

The idea to rename this field was submitted by the Canton Board of Education.

"The turf, the actual field itself, will be named 'Legends Field,'" said Canton First Selectman Kevin Witkos. The field will be surrounded by "Nancy Grace Memorial Stadium."

With the field being "Legends Field," there will be opportunities for past, present, and future coaches to be put on a plaque or monument at the field.

The school board would form a committee to make those decisions in the future.

• The Canton Middle/High School upper field was renamed "deSimas Field" in honor of longtime Canton Board of Education member/chairperson Catherine deSimas, who retired from the board in 1999 after 26 years.

Witkos said this suggestion was also approved by the local school board.

For the minutes of the Aug. 27 Canton Board of Selectmen meeting, click on this link.

To watch the Aug. 27 Canton Board of Selectmen meeting, click on this link.

From Oct. 3, 2024: 'Canton Sports Legend Nancy Grace Dies; Coached 9 State Champion Teams'