The NFL announced on Tuesday that Mr. Dave Ettinger of Garden City High School (Garden City, N.Y.) has been named the 2025 NFC Don Shula High School Coach of the Year.
This comes nearly two months after Ettinger was named the 2025 Lou Rettino High School Coach of the Year by the New York Giants and Gatorade.
"I am incredibly grateful to accept the Don Shula High School Coach of the Year Award, an honor that represents teamwork, sportsmanship, and character," said Ettinger. "My life off the field has been as a constant teacher, shaping both who I am as a person and how I approach coaching. We celebrate selflessness — making the extra block, supporting a teammate, handling adversity with composure. Our athletes learn that how you win matters as much as winning itself, and that the lessons gained through effort and responsibility extend far beyond football. Ultimately, our mission is for every student-athlete to leave our program as a better leader, a better teammate, and a better person."
Dylan Smith of Palisades Charter High School in California was named the AFC winner after being nominated by the Los Angeles Chargers.
Coach Ettinger's love of coaching, and commitment to his student athletes has translated into the most dominant winning streak that New York State football has ever witnessed. Under Ettinger's leadership the Trojans have now won 66 straight games dating back to 2020, which is also the longest active win streak in the nation. On November 21st, despite losing two players, including their quarterback, they defeated Long Beach High School 27-12 to win their 10th straight Nassau Conference II championship, and the 30th in the school's proud history. On November 29th, Garden City defeated East Islip (10-2) by a score of 10-7 to win their 5th consecutive Long Island Class II Championship and finish the season 12-0. In 11 years as head coach, Ettinger's all-time record stands at an unbelievable 119-3, with 10 Nassau Conference II championships, and 8 Long Island Class II Championships.
"Coach Smith and Coach Ettinger are leaders who inspire, uplift and positively shape the lives of young people, representing the very best of high school football coaches," said Alexia Gallagher, NFL VP of Philanthropy and Executive Director of the NFL Foundation. "Their commitment to their players and communities reflects the values at the heart of the Don Shula Coach of the Year Award, and the NFL Foundation is proud to celebrate the incredible role they play in the lives of countless student-athletes."
The NFL Foundation, in partnership with Jersey Mike's, will honor Smith and Ettinger as the 2025 Don Shula NFL High School Coaches of the Year and each will receive $15,000 for their high school football programs and a $10,000 cash prize. They will both be guests of the NFL at the 2026 Pro Bowl Games and Super Bowl LX in the Bay Area and be recognized at NFL Honors.
Coach Ettinger graduated from Commack High School (Commack, NY) in 1993 and attended Hofstra University where he was a 4-year starting kicker for the football team. He set the all-time career scoring record with 326 points and was a two-time All-American. In addition, Coach Ettinger played in the 1997 Hula Bowl and attended the 1998 scouting combine.
Coach Ettinger began his coaching career at Garden City Middle School in 1999 and was there until he became an assistant coach at Garden City High School in 2005 under legendary Hall of Fame coach Tom Flatley. He took over the program in 2016 and has gone on to lead the program to unprecedented levels of success. Ettinger was honored as the Giants' Lou Rettino High School Football Coach of the Week in his first season as head coach of the Trojans when they upset Carey High School 38-7 to end their 25-game winning streak.
Coach Ettinger's accomplishments extend far beyond the gridiron, as he also serves as the head coach for girls' varsity bowling in the winter, and girls' varsity lacrosse coach in the spring. His girls' lacrosse team is equally dominant, having achieved a #18 national ranking during the 2025 season after being ranked #1 overall in New York State in 2024. In the classroom, all three of his football, lacrosse and bowling teams have earned the prestigious distinction as NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete Teams every single year that he has coached, with a team GPA of 90.00 or higher, and his athletes have a 100% high school graduation rate. In 2025 alone, he will be graduating 15 student-athletes with collegiate athletic scholarships, with 14 lacrosse athletes and 1 football athlete. Four of the 15 will be attending Ivy League schools. In total, over 40 of his former athletes have gone on to compete at the collegiate level, a direct reflection of his commitment to preparing students for success both athletically and academically.
Beyond his impact on his student-athletes, Coach Ettinger has also played a meaningful role in mentoring younger coaches throughout the Garden City district, serving as a steady, knowledgeable resource for those entering the profession. Whether offering guidance on practice planning, sharing strategies for building positive team culture, or helping new coaches navigate district expectations, he consistently leads with humility and a team-first mindset. His open-door approach invites questions, collaboration, and professional growth, allowing emerging coaches to learn not just the technical aspects of their sport, but also the importance of character, communication, and student-centered coaching. Through his mentorship, Coach Ettinger strengthens the entire athletics program, ensuring that Garden City's standards of excellence, integrity, and sportsmanship are carried forward by the next generation of leaders.
Ettinger also makes sure that his teams are rooted in their community, and their relationship with the Garden City Thunder youth football program is a key part of that mission. Each week throughout the season, their varsity players attend Thunder games, where they meet the young athletes, cheer them on, support their coaches, and serve as positive role models. This connection builds pride, unity, and a shared identity within their football community. Many current Trojan players share how those interactions with varsity athletes when they were Thunder players inspired them to work, dream, and eventually earn a spot on the Garden City High School team.
Ettinger exemplifies the same spirit of service through his dedicated volunteer work coaching Garden City High School Adapted Physical Education students at the Annual NYS Challenger Games, formerly known as the Games for the Physically Challenged. Going well beyond his responsibilities on the field, Coach Ettinger commits his time, energy, and expertise to supporting student-athletes of all abilities, creating an environment where inclusion, confidence, and personal achievement are the primary focus. His patience, encouragement, and genuine care help these students experience the joy of competition while building self-esteem, teamwork, and lifelong skills. Through his involvement, Coach Ettinger not only empowers his athletes but also reinforces Garden City's commitment to fostering meaningful opportunities for every student to participate, compete, and succeed.
He also gives back to the sports that he loves by dedicating his time and expertise to serving as a member of the Garden City Hall of Fame Selection Committee, Garden City Athletic Scholarship & Award Committee, Nassau County Football Committee, and the Nassau County Girls Lacrosse Executive Board. He has been honored many times over the years for his teams' accomplishments, but was most recently honored as the 2024 New York State Coaches Association's Class A Head Coach of the Year.
Ettinger is also a proud family man, and dedicated husband to his wife Dana, and loving father to his two daughters Emma and Amanda. Emma recently graduated from James Madison University as a cheerleader, and Amanda is currently a junior at the University of South Florida competing in Division I lacrosse. He is also a proud educator, and physical education teacher at Garden City High School. He has also been inducted into the Nassau County Athletic Hall of Fame.
"I am truly honored to receive recognition from the New York Giants," Ettinger said in December after being named the Giants' High School Coach of the Year. "Football is the ultimate team sport, and no head coach achieves success alone. Every accomplishment comes from the dedication and hard work of our players, the expertise of an incredible group of assistants, the support of committed administrators, and the encouragement of a passionate community. My experiences playing alongside NFL coaches such as Raheem Morris, now head coach of the Falcons, and playing for Dan Quinn, former head coach of the Washington Football Team, have profoundly shaped my understanding of leadership, preparation, and the value of surrounding yourself with the right people—lessons I bring to every practice and game. At Garden City, I have been fortunate to work with coaches who share a commitment to preparation, discipline, and mentorship. Their guidance, along with the unwavering support of our administration and community, creates an environment where athletes can thrive both on and off the field. This recognition is as much theirs as it is mine. It underscores that true success is built collectively—through teamwork, collaboration, and shared purpose—and that the values instilled in our players extend far beyond the game. Ultimately, I hope this acknowledgment reflects not just my career, but the collective effort of everyone who has contributed to shaping a program that develops leaders, champions, and young men prepared for life."
