Chatham Central School District and Ichabod Crane Central School District are excited to announce that the two districts will combine their football programs into a single, shared program, starting in the fall 2025 season, pending Section 2 approval.
This partnership was unanimously approved by both districts’ boards of education this week and district leaders are very excited about the opportunity this will provide for student athletes at both Chatham and Ichabod Crane. The team will be called Chatham Ichabod Crane (CIC) Football, with the colors of black and white.
Neither football program has enough players to support junior varsity teams. Currently, both districts have modified 9 (grades 7-9) and varsity teams. The combined program will now offer all three levels: a true modified team (grades 7-8), junior varsity, and varsity. They will play in Class B.
“The Chatham Central School District is thrilled to collaborate and partner in a combined football program with Ichabod Crane Central School District,” said Chatham Superintendent Andrew Kourt. “It is our goal that together our teams will be even more competitive and that we can continue the football tradition in Chatham."
"This shared athletic program is a testament to both districts’ commitments to providing our students with access to the opportunities they need to succeed,” Ichabod Crane Superintendent Marie Digirolamo added. “Partnerships like this one are essential to ensuring our students have as many pathways to success as possible, both on and off the field.”
This partnership not only allows for more opportunities for athletes in both districts to participate, but also supports age-appropriate play, increased program development, and competitive growth. As numbers of football players continue to decline, this partnership will ensure that football remains a mainstay at both Ichabod Crane and Chatham.
“We are excited for the partnership with the Chatham Football program to take place in the fall of 2025. This will bring more opportunity to both districts’ student-athletes, as well as provide a safer playing field for all,” said Ichabod Crane Athletic Director Dave Ames.
This will be a true 50/50 partnership, with the athletic directors and superintendents of both districts collaborating to build schedules and work through the logistics of the new program. The location of games and practices will be scheduled evenly between the two campuses and both high schools will continue to host their traditional homecoming events. Chatham and Ichabod will split all costs and share coaching responsibilities. This is not the first time that Ichabod and Chatham have partnered in athletics. Currently, the districts have a shared bowling team.
“This merger with ICC football was inevitable for Chatham moving forward because we have experienced low numbers the past few years,” Chatham Athletic Director John Brantley said. “This merger will allow Chatham to have football as an opportunity for Chatham students as well as allow ICC to continue to improve their program to sustain football for the future.”
Ichabod and Chatham have scheduled a CIC Football Information Session for their football families to attend on Thursday, January 23 at 6 p.m. in the Chatham Middle School auditorium, located at 50 Woodbridge Avenue, Chatham.