East Rutherford, NJ– The New York Giants have selected Mr. Donald Klein of Ocean Township High School (Oakhurst, NJ) as "The Lou Rettino High School Football Coach of the Week" presented by Chase for the week of November 2, 2015. Coach Klein and the Spartans defeated Red Bank Catholic High School, the defending Non-Public Group 3 State Champions this weekend 42-35.
In recognition of Coach Klein's success and commitment, he will receive a certificate of recognition signed by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin and a $1,000 check, to be matched by Chase, will be granted to the Spartans football program. Coach Klein will be acknowledged by a stadium announcement when the Giants host the New England Patriots on November 15th and an announcement will also be posted on the Giants website, www.giants.com.
The Lou Rettino High School Football Coach of the Week Award 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 2015 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 2015 season, the Giants will choose a Coach of the Year. That coach will receive $2,000, to be matched by Chase, for their school's football program. They will also be invited to attend a dinner hosted by the Giants and Chase.
Last year, Chase committed over $17 million in charitable donations in the tri-state area. Investing in the communities it serves is central to how Chase does business, and the firm is committed to supporting programs like youth football that provide young people with access to a positive extracurricular activity.
Coach Klein is in his 9th year as the Head Football Coach at Ocean Township High School in Oakhurst, NJ. Coach Klein currently holds a 55-35-1 career coaching record (60% winning percentage) and has led The Big Red to the Public School Federal Division Championship in 2008 and a B North Divisional Championship in 2013. The Spartans have qualified for the Central Jersey Group III Playoffs 6 times during his tenure and have advanced to the Semi-Finals in 2008, 2009, 2013 and 2014.
In 2013, Coach Klein led the Big Red to a 10-1 overall record, which was only the 4th time in school history that a team reached a double digit win total. As a result of Ocean Township's success, Coach Klein was chosen as the B-North Coach of the Year in 2013 and selected by his peers to be the Head Coach of the Monmouth County All-Star team for the 2014 Gridiron Classic. Coach Klein was an assistant coach at Ocean Township for 3 seasons prior to becoming the Head Coach and helped the Spartans win a Central Jersey Group III State Championship in 2005 and a Federal Division Championship in 2006.
Coach Klein played quarterback and competed scholastically at Shore Regional High School (1993-1996) where he led his team to a C-North Division Championship and a Central Jersey Group 1 Playoff birth in his senior season. He was recognized as a C-North Division All-Star by the division's coaches and a Group 1 All-State quarterback by the NJ Star Ledger. Coach Klein continued his academic and athletic career at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA where he played quarterback on the football team and outfield on the baseball team for the Diplomats.
Coach Klein resides in Tinton Falls, NJ with his wife, Leigh, and their two daughters Cameron and Kendall.
