East Rutherford, NJ – The New York Giants and Gatorade have selected Mr. Zach Gobel of Averill Park High School (Averill Park, NY) as the Lou Rettino High School Coach of the Week for Week 2 of the 2025 season. Averill Park defeated the Lansingburgh Knights 39-0 at home on Friday night in both team's first game of the year. 2025 is a season of change for Averill Park after winning the Section 2 Class A championship in 2024. The program has moved to Class B, changed their name to the Golden Knights, and have just three starting players returning from last year's team. The program has not finished below .500 since the 2015 season under Gobel's leadership, and made a statement in their first game that they plan on maintaining their winning ways in 2025.
The Lou Rettino High School Football Coach of the Week Award is part of the Giants' continuing effort to support local high school football programs. 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. Each week during the high school football season, the Giants selected 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 contributing overall to their community.
In recognition of Coach Gobel's selection as Coach of the Week, a $2,000 check will be granted to the school's football program from The Giants Foundation and Gatorade. He will also receive a certificate of recognition signed by Giants head coach Brian Daboll and will be honored at a dinner following the season, as well as at a 2026 pre-season home game.
Gobel has served as a PE teacher and Head Coach at Averill Park since 2009 and has a career record of 90-60. Gobel has led Averill Park to three straight Section 2 Class A Super Bowl appearances, finally breaking through last season and capturing the program's first sectional title. Gobel is also the Boys and Girls Indoor Track & Field Head Coach and the Boys Outdoor Track & Field Head Coach.
"I am extremely honored to have been selected as the Lou Rettino High School Coach of the Week," said Gobel. "I'd like to thank the New York Giants for selecting me, however this is a team award. Football is a player's game, and our team went out and executed the game plan on Friday evening against a tough Lansinsburgh team. I am also extremely fortunate to have a dedicated coaching staff of ten assistant coaches, many of who have been around the program for years. In fact, four of them came up through the program playing at Averill Park. We are also fortunate to have a great youth program here in Averill Park that feeds into our program. Lastly, I need to thank my wife and three sons for letting me coach the sport that I love. Without their help and support I would not be able to do what I do."
"I can't think of a more deserving coach to receive this award," said Director of Athletics Mark Bubniak. "Coach Gobel has a relentless work ethic that ethic rubs off on his players and the rest of the staff. He has built a solid tradition here at Averill Park and it is not uncommon to see many of his former players here at a game on Friday night."
