NY Giants Name Staples’ Petroccio “High School Football Coach of the Year”

Marce Petroccio: “This is about as big as it gets.”WN photoThe New York Giants have selected Coach Marce Petroccio of Westport’s Staples High School its high school football coach of the year.

“I was shocked and surprised.” Petroccio said today. “This is about as big as it gets. It’s a tribute to the assistant coaches and the program. It really hasn’t sunk in yet.”

Petroccio’s Wreckers (11-1) ended the season state champs in the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic League (CIAC) Class L category with Saturday’s 35-7 win over East Lyme. It was the second Staples state crown in three years.

The Giants award was formally announced Tuesday night but word of the honor had reached Westport Monday and it was mentioned at Monday night’s Board of Education meeting.

In 12 seasons as Staples head coach, Petroccio has led the Wreckers to 97 wins and 38 loses, establishing his football program as one of the best in Connecticut.

“The 2004 Lou Rettino High School Football Coach of the Year Award,” as it is formally known, carries with it a $2,000 award for the coach’s football program and will be announced at the Dec. 18 Giants vs. Steelers game.

In addition, Petroccio will receive a certificate of recognition signed by NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, NFL Director of Football Operations Gene Washington, and Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin.

The Lou Rettino High School Football Coach of the Week Award, started in 1996, is part of the Giants’ continuing efforts to promote youth football.

The Giants named 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,” according to a Giants press release.

Each week during the season, the Giants selected one area high school head coach as Coach of the Week winner.