East Rutherford, NJ – The New York Giants and Gatorade have selected Mr. Todd Cayea of Carmel High School (Carmel, NY) as the Lou Rettino High School Coach of the Week for Week 9 of the 2019 season. Cayea's Rams defeated Spring Valley 48-7 in the Section 1 Class AA semifinals to reach their first Section 1 championship game since 2008.
The Lou Rettino High School Football Coach of the Week Award is part of the Giants' continuing effort to support local youth 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 youth football, developing motivated student-athletes and his overall community involvement.
In recognition of Coach Cayea'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 NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Giants head coach Pat Shurmur, and was acknowledged with an in-stadium announcement when the Giants hosted the Green Bay Packers on December 1st. All 2019 Coach of the Week honorees and the 2019 Coach of the Year will also be invited to attend a dinner hosted by the Giants at MetLife Stadium in the Spring, and will be invited with their teams to a Giants preseason game in 2020.
Coach Cayea has been the Head Coach at Carmel High School for the past 25 years. He is a two-time Head Coach of the Section One All Star Team and was the Head Coach at Rye Neck High School (Rye, NY) for a year. His overall record is 152-80-2. He has been named Coach of the Year 9 times in the Section One League AA-North and was the Journal News Coach of the Year in 1998. This is Coach Cayea's 2nd recognition by the NY Giants for the "Lou Rettino High School Coach of the Week." Coach Cayea's team has been a Section One finalist five times and the State Semifinalists in 1998. He is also the former President of the Section One Coaches Association.
Coach Cayea began a 7-on-7 passing tournament/lineman challenge 22 years ago that is now attended by over thirty regional varsity programs. In addition, he had a vision of uniting two community football programs into one and with a lot of support from the community, the two programs merged to form the Carmel Rams Youth Football and Cheer Program which serves over 400 student athletes. He also has coached Carmel youth baseball and basketball.
"Todd is a great head football coach who takes pride in his program," commented Susan Dullea, the Carmel Athletic Director. "In my five years working with him I am able to witness the commitment and dedication he has to our student athletes. Our students are given the tools to not only be successful on the football field, but in life. Coach Cayea has established a program that creates a culture that inspires, empowers, and fosters a family environment. I want to thank the New York Giants for recognizing Coach Cayea and his staff for this honor".
On notification of this honor, Coach Cayea commented "I would like to thank the Giants organization for the recognition. I'm proud to represent our league, the state of NY and most importantly our football program at Carmel. I'm honored to work with a great group of coaches and players who all share in this recognition."
Coach Cayea was a three year starter as an Offensive Lineman at SUNY Brockport. He was named Outstanding Offensive Lineman in 1989. Coach Cayea has a wife Debra, 4 sons, Devan (28), Justin (25), Peyton (18) and Trevor (15) and a daughter Breleigh (13).
