EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - The New York Giants have selected Mr. Rich Hennessy of Westlake High School (Thornwood, NY) as "The Lou Rettino High School Football Coach of the Week" presented by BP for the week of October 4, 2010. "My core belief as a coach is to develop young student-athletes to reach their greatest potential, on and off the football field," says the proud Coach.
In recognition of Coach Hennessy's success and commitment, he will receive a certificate of recognition signed by the NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin. A $1,000 check will be granted to the Wildcat football program. Coach Hennessy will be acknowledged by a stadium announcement when the Giants host the Detroit Lions on October 17th. An announcement will also be posted on the Giants web site, **www.giants.com**.
The Lou Rettino High School Football Coach of the Week Award presented by BP, is part of the Giants' continuing effort to promote youth football. 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.
The Coach of the Week program is supported by BP, a proud sponsor of the Giants. This year, BP is expanding its New York area football sponsorship beyond the stadium to support local youth football leagues, coaches and parents. In addition, BP is also making equipment donations to leagues in need and providing opportunities for youths to participate in unique Giants-related experiences including hospitality suite access at the New Meadowlands Stadium and practices at a Giants facility.
Each week during the 2010 high school football season, the Giants will select 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. At the conclusion of the 2010 season, the Giants will choose a Coach of the Year. That coach will receive $2,000 for their school's football program. They will also be invited to attend a luncheon hosted by the Giants and BP.
Coach Hennessy joined the Wildcat Football Coaching Staff in 1999 taking over the Middle School Football Program. He also spent time at the JV football level before becoming the head Varsity Football Coach in 2005. During that stretch, the program has brought home a League Championship Title in 2008 and finished as the runner-up in the 2008 Class C Section 1 Championship.
Coach Hennessy was born and raised in the Bronx, NY and was a 1995 graduate of Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, NY. He was a Defensive Lineman on the Varsity Football team before attending the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY. At the college football level, he played Offensive Guard and Defensive Tackle and graduated in 1999.
Coach Hennessy accepted a position as a Middle School Social Studies teacher at Westlake Middle School in 2001 and is currently in his 9th year as a teacher and coach in the Mount Pleasant Central School District. Coach Hennessy has an incredibly supportive wife Kristi and beautiful twin girls Megan and Erin who just turned one! The girls were interestingly born during the 2009-2010 Football Season!
