Somers football coach Tony DeMatteo became just the fourth football coach in New York state history to reach 300 wins when his Tuskers beat Hen Hud 34-7 Thursday night in a Class A quarterfinal at Somers High School.
Here are a few facts and figures:
• DeMatteo, who turned 71 on Oct. 14, is now 300-95-4 overall in 44 seasons. This is his 13th season at Somers, where his team has posted an 82-30 record. The Tuskers won the Section 1 Class B championship in 2000 and DeMatteo was named the 2003 NFL High School Coach of the Year. He was nominated by former Roosevelt star Jimmy Kennedy, who was with the St. Louis Rams at the time.
• DeMatteo went 208-65-4 in 31 seasons at Roosevelt, winning seven Section 1 titles. The 1996 team won the Class AA state championship after reaching the state semifinals the previous year. Roosevelt remains one of only three Section 1 schools to win a state championship in the largest classification, joining 1993 North Rockland and 2003 New Rochelle.
• According to the web site roadtosyracuse.com, DeMatteo joined the following coaches in the 300 Club: the late Howie Vogts of Section 8’s Bethpage (364); Vin O’Connor of the CHSFL’s St. Francis Prep (331); and the retired Brent Steuerwald of Section 2’s Shenendehowa (318).
• The next four on the Section 1 all-time coaching wins’ list are: Dino Garr of Rye (still active at 257); the retired Joe Casarella of North Rockland (256); Skip Violante of Dobbs Ferry and Somers (227); and Rich Conklin of Nanuet (218).
• After DeMatteo and Garr, Brian Walsh, formerly of Brewster and now at Our Lady of Lourdes, is third among active Section 1 coaches at 217 heading into Friday’s B semifinal at home against Croton-Harmon.
• Here’s Mark Vergari’s photo gallery from tonight’s game.
• Rick Carpiniello will have more on DeMatteo in Tuesday’s Journal News.
12 Comments
GREAT COACH THAT I KNOW FOR A FACT BEAT THE TEAMS THAT I WAS ON 3 TIMES,CONGRATS TO AN ICON.
Congrats!!... Coach D!...
Congratulations Coach D not only one of the best coaches but one of the best men.
What I like about this photo is the fact that Somers KNEW they were going to win so the Banner was already prepared!
300 wins is impressive. However, I’m most impressed with the amount of years Coach D has been at it. Being a coach is not easy.
Great achievement…..maybe Section1 should let Tony chair the next playoff and scheduling committee meeting and include Garr Cassarella Violante Conklin and Walsh (not Luke) and deep six whoever was responsible for this years mess.
Congrats to Coach Dematteo!!! Another stepinac great!
Jim, all of the coaches you mentioned plus more, have talked to AD’s and the section commitee with advice from the tenches that would make the system fair for all. They just do not listen.
COACH DEMATTEO, CONGRATS ON YOUR GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT, AND TO ALL THE BOYS THAT BECAME MEN UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP. Many more Mike
Congratulations to Coach Dematteo. He is the Godfather of Section 1 and a first class individual.
His quote for why he utilises the wing t offense is a classic line.
You deserve the accolades Coach, good luck on Tuesday.
The fact that over 100 of his former players showed up for this game is a tribute to Tony not only as a coach but as a man.
Some of Tony’s former players are in their 60s now and to this day he still goes the extra yard for many of them when needed.
Congratulations Coach, my dad always said you were one of the best he’s ever worked with, to this day he still talks about you. I thought I would send you his best wishes from his new home at the VA in Montrose.