East Rutherford, NJ – The New York Giants and Gatorade have selected Mr. Nick Delcalzo of Hasbrouck Heights High School (Hasbrouck Heights, NJ) as the 2018 Lou Rettino High School Football Coach of the Year. Delcalzo led Hasbrouck Heights to a 12-0 record this season, and the Aviators have now won 33 of their last 34 games. Hasbrouck Heights defeated Butler 41-7 in MetLife Stadium to win the inaugural North, Group 1 Bowl Game. The week prior, they defeated Shabazz High School (Newark, NJ) 13-7, to win their third consecutive sectional title, and seventh sectional title in school history. The Aviators outscored their four postseason opponents, 122-20, and now have won 22 state titles dating back to 1925.
The Lou Rettino High School Football Coach of the Week Award is part of the Giants' continuing effort to support local youth 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 his overall community involvement. Each Coach of the Week school received a $2,000 grant for their football program from the Giants Foundation and Gatorade.
In recognition of Coach Delcalzo's selection as Coach of the Year, a $4,000 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 NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Giants head coach Pat Shurmur. Coach Delcalzo's honor was acknowledged with an in-stadium announcement when the Giants hosted the Tennessee Titans on December 16th. Coach Delcalzo and the ten 2018 Coach of the Week honorees will also be invited to attend a dinner hosted by the Giants at MetLife Stadium in the Spring, and will be invited with their teams to a Giants preseason game in 2019.
Coach Delcalzo became head coach of the Hasbrouck Heights Aviators in 1985, and has amassed 262 career victories over the past 33 years. Amazingly, they have only had one losing season in that time. His teams have won five State Sectional Championships, including each of the last three seasons, and the inaugural North, Group 1 Bowl Championship this year. They have also won two of the three NJIC Conference Titles (2016 & 2018) and 16 League/Division Titles. The Aviators were names Bergen County Group 1 & 2 Team of the Year this season.
Coach Delcalzo is a member of the NJSIAA Hall of Fame, and is a two-time Bergen County Coach of the Year Honoree. He is a 1971 graduate of Hasbrouck Heights High School, and was a member of the 1969 team that was recognized as the top team in the state of New Jersey under Coach Pete LaBarbiera. That year the Aviators were 9-0 with a top 10 national rank, and an impressive 46 points average margin of victory.
In addition to coaching, Delcalzo has spent the past 40 years as a physical educator, health teacher and assistant principal at Hasbrouck Heights. He and his wife, Gloria have three kids – Nicholas, Holly and Kevin, and four grandchildren, Addyson, Nicholas, Christopher and Gavin.
2018 Lou Rettino High School Football Coach of the Week Honorees Presented by Gatorade
Week 1 - Dan Hicks, Harrison High School, Harrison, NJ
Week 2 – Steve Chmela, Hauppauge High School, Hauppauge, NY
Week 3 - Dan DiFalco, Ardsley High School, Ardsley, NY
Week 4 – Nick Giannatasio, Moore Catholic High School, Staten Island, NY
Week 5 – Joe Sabella, Paramus High School, Paramus, NJ
Week 6 – Drew Gibbs, Ramapo High School, Franklin Lakes, NJ
Week 7 – Ed Killenberger, Goshen High School, Goshen, NY
Week 8 – Rich Reichert, St. Anthony's High School, South Huntington, NY
Week 9 – Jimmy Clark, John Jay High School, Cross River, NY
Week 10 – Mitch Ross, Fairfield Ludlowe High School, Fairfield, CT
2018 Coach of the Year: Nick Delcalzo, Hasbrouck Heights High School, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ
