The Giants Foundation and Gatorade to contribute $2,000 to the football program.
East Rutherford, NJ – The New York Giants and Gatorade have selected Mr. Matt Demarest of Passaic County Technical Institute (Wayne, NJ) as the Lou Rettino High School Coach of the Week for Week 5 of the 2024 season. The Bulldogs (5-0) defeated the previously unbeaten Ridgewood Maroons (4-1) by a score of 14-0 last Friday to give Coach Demarest his 100th career victory in front of the home crowd. The defensive masterpiece included nine tackles for loss, and ended with Ridgewood only gaining 63 yards in the game. It was quite a performance from a defense with just two retuning starters from last year. The win brings Passaic Tech's record to an incredible 29-4 since the 2022 season began.
The Lou Rettino High School Football Coach of the Week Award is part of the Giants' continuing effort to support local high school 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 contributing overall to their community.
In recognition of Coach Demarest'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 Giants head coach Brian Daboll, and will be honored at a dinner following the season, as well as a 2025 pre-season home game.
Matt Demarest is in his 13th season as head coach of the Passaic Tech Bulldogs, and previously served as an assistant coach on defense and special teams at the school for 18 years under John Iurato. This is his 31st year happily teaching Health & Physical Education and coaching at Passaic Tech. A graduate of West Milford High School and Trenton State College, where he played football, Demarest also received a Master's degree from William Paterson University. He is a proud husband to his wife Carla and father to his sons Dylan and Derek
