EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - The New York Giants have selected Mr. Barry Blauvelt of Wallington High School (Wallington, NJ) as "The Lou Rettino High School Football Coach of the Week" presented by BP for the week of October 18, 2010. Coach Blauvelt proudly coaches the football team he played for back when he attended Wallington High School.
In recognition of Coach Blauvelt's success and commitment, he will receive a certificate of recognition signed by the NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin. A $1,000 check will be granted to the Panthers football program. Coach Blauvelt will be acknowledged by a stadium announcement when the Giants host the Dallas Cowboys on November 14th. An announcement will also be posted on the Giants web site, **www.giants.com**.
The Lou Rettino High School Football Coach of the Week Award presented by BP, is part of the Giants' continuing effort to promote youth football. The Giants elected to name the award in memory of former Union High School (NJ) coach, Lou Rettino, for his fine commitment to the game of football, his community and the betterment of his athletes' lives.
The Coach of the Week program is supported by BP, a proud sponsor of the Giants. This year, BP is expanding its New York area football sponsorship beyond the stadium to support local youth football leagues, coaches and parents. In addition, BP is also making equipment donations to leagues in need and providing opportunities for youths to participate in unique Giants-related experiences including hospitality suite access at the New Meadowlands Stadium and practices at a Giants facility.
Each week during the 2010 high school football season, the Giants will select one area high school head coach as the Coach of the Week winner. The selection is based on the coach's continuing commitment towards promoting youth football, developing motivated student-athletes and his overall community involvement. At the conclusion of the 2010 season, the Giants will choose a Coach of the Year. That coach will receive $2,000 for their school's football program. They will also be invited to attend a luncheon hosted by the Giants and BP.
Coach Blauvelt began his coaching career in 1997 at Francis Scott Key HS in Union Bridge, MD as an Assistant. In 1998, he coached the Wallington Jr. Panthers Pee-Wee Team until he became the Assistant Coach of Lodi HS in Lodi, NJ from 1999-2003. He then joined the Wallington HS football team as the Defensive Coordinator from 2004-2008 until 2009 when he became the Head Coach. Aside from coaching football, Coach Blauvelt was also the Head Coach of the Immaculate Heart Academy Girls Lacrosse Team from 1999-2001and the Head Coach of the Lodi HS Girls Basketball Team from 2002-2005. He served as Head Coach for the Wayne Valley HS Girls Lacrosse Team from 2003-2007 and in 2009. He has also been the Head Coach of the Wallington HS Girls Basketball Team since 2009.
Coach Blauvelt was born and raised in Wallington, NJ and grew up playing for the Jr. Panthers Football Program. He attended Wallington HS and was a starting Guard on the 1990 State Championship Team. He graduated in 1992 and went on to play football at Albright College. He then was a two year starter at Tackle at Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College) from 1994-1996. Coach Blauvelt became a Physical Education teacher at Wallington High School and is happily married to his wife Antonella. Coach Blauvelt is excited to receive this honor, but is also humbled in knowing that it was his staff who prepared the players and the players who executed, to allow him to be chosen.
