Max DeLorenzo is the greatest rusher in Berlin High School history.

Current and future Redcoats will chase No. 44’s 5,040 career yards. There was no better example of Max’s magnificence and might than when Berlin won its first CIAC title against Bethel in 2009.  The junior carried the ball 44 times (66 percent of the team’s offensive plays) for 334 yards – both team records.  He had three touchdown runs in the 46-6 Class M triumph.  He was well on his way to another when after running 42 yards in the fourth quarter, he took a knee at the Bethel 4.  

Taylor Tavarozzi scored on the next play. “He was a senior captain and hadn’t played (because of an ankle injury),” said DeLorenzo, a 2011 graduate.  “I wanted him to score his last TD.  I learned of leadership as a freshman and how important it was to honor the senior class.  

Accolades fill DiLorenzo’s resume.  He averaged 8 yards per carry and 120 per game.  He was the state’s rushing leader 2008-11, four-time All-Courant and All-Herald, three-time CHSCA All-state, team captain and all-CCC, two-time New Haven Register and Class M MVP, Walter Camp Elite Football Award and Redcoat Award and 2011 New Britain Player of the Year.

DeLorenzo also starred in basketball where he was the first Redcoat to record 1,000 points and 500 rebounds.  Though he often wasn’t as tall as his frontcourt opponents, he never retreated.  He was all CHSCA and All-Courant for two seasons.  He was four-year CIAC leadership Conference and all-academic and varsity letter winner in football and basketball.

He received a full athletic scholarship at UConn where he ran for 319 yards in 2012, after redshirting in ’11; 349 yards in ’13 and 343 in ’14.  He was used primarily as the H back in his final season. 

After earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in communications, DeLorenzo, who lives in Berlin, has been a Berlin assistant coach. He has been offensive coordinator and running backs coach since 2019.

In addition to working for Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives Matt Ritter, DeLorenzo is active in the area, youth football camps and a proud coach of his son, William.