East Rutherford, NJ – The New York Giants and Gatorade have selected Mr. John Jacob of East Orange Campus High School (East Orange, NJ) as the Lou Rettino High School Coach of the Week for Week 5 of the 2025 season. The Jaguars improved to 4-0 on Saturday with a 47-0 victory over Orange High School at home. East Orange outscored their opponents 152-0 in their first four games of the season and is eager to host a 4-1 Bloomfield Bengals team this Saturday with the hopes of earning a fifth consecutive victory to start the season.
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 Jacob'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.
Jacob began his impressive coaching career in 1997 and became head coach at West Orange High School in 2003, taking a school with two previous playoff appearances to the playoffs five times in his ten seasons at the helm. He went on to serve as offensive coordinator at Wayne Hills for six seasons, helping guide the team to North1 Group IV titles in 2016 and 2018 with dominant offensive performances. Jacob then became offensive coordinator for the East Orange Campus Jaguars, where he helped lead the team to their 13-0 season and North Regional Group 5 State title in 2021. He took over as head coach of the program in 2022, and the Jaguars defeated West Orange in the 2024 NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 1, Group 5 championship game before falling to Union City in the NJSIAA Group 5 Championship semifinal.
In addition to his excellence in coaching, Jacob has been a trusted leader in the New Jersey Football Coaches Association which he has worked to strengthen to promote the best interests of NJ High School Football. He has served on the NJFCA Executive Committee since 2009, presiding as commissioner of the organization since 2019, as well as previously serving as President. He was honored as the New Jersey Football Coaches Association's Group 5 Coach of the Year for 2021-2022 and inducted into the Essex County Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2024.
"I am extremely humbled and honored by this recognition from the New York Giants," said Jacob. This organization has always been an ardent supporter of New Jersey youth and high school football. It is with great pride that I accept the honor and strive to exemplify the shared values the Giants organization and our amazing coaches across our great state demonstrate on a daily basis."
