East Rutherford, NJ – The New York Giants and Gatorade have selected Mr. Joe Borkowski of the Hoboken High School Redwings (Hoboken, N.J.) as the Lou Rettino High School Coach of the Week for Week 1 of the 2026 season. Borkowski's Redwings traveled to Riggins Field in East Rutherford to play Becton Regional and walked away with a 50-28 victory, rushing 26 times for 435 yards and six touchdowns. Senior Devin McMillan accounted for 316 yards rushing and 5 touchdowns, and caught the team's only completed pass for 2 yards in the game. Borkowski took over the Hoboken football program in 2024 after the team finished the previous season 0-8. The team has improved dramatically with 3 wins in 2024 and a 9-0 regular season in 2025 that ended with a 31-28 playoff loss at Rutherford with a last-second field goal.
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 high school football, developing motivated student-athletes and contributing overall to their community.
In recognition of Coach Borkowski'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 John Harbaugh and will be honored at a postseason dinner and at a 2027 preseason home game.
Borkowski has not just helped Hoboken's tackle football team raise the standard of the program. He also coaches the Hoboken High School girls basketball team in the winter, and the girls flag football team in the spring.
"I'm extremely honored to receive this prestigious award," said Borkowski. "This recognition is a reflection of the hard work and commitment our coaches and players put into this program throughout the entire year. We still have a lot of goals we want to accomplish, but seeing how far this program has come in such a short period of time makes me incredibly proud. More importantly, I'm proud that our players are becoming young men, and the standard they continue to set for the future of Hoboken football. None of what we've been able to accomplish would be possible without the support of the entire Hoboken community.
On a personal level, I'm incredibly fortunate to have a supportive wife, family, friends, and a coaching staff who understand how much coaching and this program mean to me. They sacrifice a lot and support me every step of the way, and I don't take that for granted. I get to come to work every day and do something I truly love, alongside people I care about, in a community that has embraced me. I'm incredibly grateful for that."
