EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - The New York Giants have selected Mr. Tom Shea of Fairfield Prep (Fairfield, CT) as "The Lou Rettino High School Football Coach of the Week" presented by BP for the week of September 27, 2010. Fairfield Prep welcomes Coach Shea in his 1st season as head coach for the Varsity football team.
In recognition of Coach Shea'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 Fairfield Prep football program. Coach Shea will be acknowledged by a stadium announcement when the Giants host the Chicago Bears on October 3rd. 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.
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 Shea begins his 1st season as head coach for the Varsity football team after four years as the head coach for the Freshman football team and five years as the head coach for the JV football team. Coach Shea also helped lead the Varsity football team to the State Championship victory in 1977 as an assistant coach and spent 2 more years coaching with the team in 1997 & 1998.
Coach Shea is a Fairfield Prep Alumni of the class of 1973 where he played Center and Defensive End on the football team. He was honored as the New York Daily News All-Star in 1972, the New Haven Register All State Honorable Mention in 1971 and 1972, the Connecticut Post All League in 1971 and 1972 and the League of Champions in 1970 and 1971. He attended Harvard College from 1973-1976 and played Center as their football team became the Ivy League Champions from 1974-1975.
Coach Shea is married with 2 boys – Brendan, a Fairfield Prep Alumni (2008), played football and rugby and is currently a Business major at Wake Forest and Conor, Fairfield Prep (2011) who plays for the Fairfield Prep Varsity Football team and Rugby team. Coach Shea teaches Freshman and Sophomore Honors English at Fairfield Prep.
