THE GRIDIRON

 

By Dick Engelhardt

NEW FAIR LAWN FOOTBALL COACHES READY TO GO

Robert “Rob” Gentile takes over the reins this season as the 12th head football coach in Fair Lawn High School history. Coach Gentile, who teaches physical education and health, has 15 years experience coaching high school football. He was offensive coordinator at Fair Lawn 2007-10 under Coach Stan Myles during which time our CUTTERS had their last 2 winning seasons in 2008 and 9. The 08’team scored the most points, 320, in FLHS history beating out Frank Devens’ ’66 CUTTERS by 6 points. The ’09 CUTTERS notched the only playoff victory at SASSO FIELD edging the INDIANS of Passaic 39-38. The other “Home” playoff games were in GIANTS STADIUM in 1980. During 2011-13 Gentile was the offensive coordinator at Ridgewood under legendary coach Chuck Johnson. The ’13 team went 11-1 and played in the State championship game at MET LIFE STADIUM.

Coach Gentile has put together an awesome staff! He will be offensive coordinator. The defensive coordinator will be Dan Muro. Dan teaches in Ridgewood and was with Gentile on the Ridgewood staff in 2003-4 when the Maroons won sectional tittles, and with that great ’13 State finalist team. Dan has 17 years coaching experience with 12 as defensive coordinator. He will also coach the secondary and wide receivers.

Mike Lucchesi will be the running backs and inside linebackers coach. He has 14 years experience coaching football, most recently as the head freshmen coach at Ridgewood. He’s been the head hockey coach at Ridgewood for 7 years.

Anthony Tozzi will coach the quarterbacks and assist with the secondary. He was on Amir Saadah’s staff at Fair Lawn 2013-14 and played on Stan Myles’ 2009 playoff team. He will also be the strength and conditioning coach. 

Brendan Walis will coach the tight ends and assist in the secondary and be the assistant strength and conditioning coach. He played on Stan Myles’ 2009 playoff team and coached on Amir Sadaah’s 2015 team.

Torre Watson will coach the offensive and defensive lines. He has 19 years assistant football coaching experience and 8 years head wrestling coach experience at Ridgewood where he has twice been district coach of the year. Torre was with Coach Gentile at Ridgewood in 2003 & 2004 when Ridgewood won state sectional titles as well as when the ’13 team was a State playoff finalist.

John DiGiorgio will be the head freshman team coach. He teaches special education at FLHS and has 10 years coaching experience. Coach DiGiorgio was on Stan Myles’ staff 2007-10 including Fair Lawn’s last playoff win in ‘09 and was on the Ridgewood staff in 2013 when the Maroons were State finalists. He will be assisted by Jon Piela. Jon has 15 years coaching experience and has coached football and wrestling at FLHS. He was on Mike Alberque’s staff when Fair Lawn gave the nationally ranked Comets of Hackensack all they could handle in a 14-6 thriller State playoff loss in 2000. He has coached Fair Lawn Football Association junior league football the last few years.

Also Volunteering in the Program will be Matt Biello, who teaches physical education at FLHS and will assist in fund raising and parent organization, and Scott Leathem who will be an assistant freshman coach and is currently Fair Lawns Head lacrosse coach. Scott was on Amir Saadah’s staff 2014-15.

Coach Gentile is making every effort to get the Fair Lawn football community behind the team. The high school staff will conduct a football clinic at SASSO FIELD July 11-14 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for 3rd to 12th graders. Check it out at http://bit.ly/FLCamp16. A Kick Off Dinner is being planned for late August in the HS cafeteria. The opening game against Passaic on September 10th at 2:30 at SASSO FIELD will be preceded by Fair Lawn Football Association games. I can hardly wait. Until then, GO CUTTERS GO!!!