Ted Koch’s lifelong passion was coaching the next generation of players. He began his coaching career in the 1980s in Vernon Little League Baseball’s majors, then transitioned to coaching his young kids in tee ball. His daughter progressed to the Vernon Girl’s Softball League (slowpitch), but Ted wanted more for the Vernon girls. Fastpitch – not slowpitch – was played at the middle and high school levels, so why weren’t the girls taught how to play fastpitch? With this in mind, he was instrumental in establishing Vernon Little League Softball, where he ran skills clinics and managed everything from equipment to the snack shack. Long after his daughter stopped playing, Ted continued to work with young players in VLLS, from the time they learned how to use a glove until they were in high school and finally had relay plays down. In addition, he coached competitive travel teams in the CT Mirage organization, where he met Jim Ferris. Together, despite the barrage of dad jokes, they coached the Rocky Hill varsity softball team to a Class M State Championship in 2012. Ted moved to Ellington in 2016, where he became a beloved coach for the Ellington High School varsity team, alongside his good friends, Tom and Mary Gordon. Nothing made him prouder than to see his players gain confidence, both on and off the field.

Sadly, Ted passed away on April 6, 2026 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. To honor his legacy, his family has established the Ted Koch Memorial Softball Scholarship. This scholarship will be awarded annually to a graduating senior on the Ellington High School softball team who plans to play college softball at any level. May Coach Ted continue to inspire the next generation of softball players for years to come.