East Rutherford, NJ – The New York Giants and Gatorade have selected Mr. Artie Viggiano of Pelham Memorial High School (Pelham, NY) as the Lou Rettino High School Coach of the Week for Week 1 of the 2019 season. Viggiano led Pelham Memorial to a 14-7 overtime victory on the road against Harrison.
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 Viggiano'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. Coach Viggiano's honor will be acknowledged with an in-stadium announcement when the Giants host Washington on September 29th. 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 Viggiano, an alumnus of Pelham Memorial, and a former all-state football player, took over as head football coach in 2016. The Pelicans were winless in 2015, but have improved each year under his direction. Their return to Section 1 is proof that Pelham Memorial has returned as a proud football program.
"Coach Viggiano has done an amazing job with our football program since becoming the head coach in 2016," said athletic director Stephen Luciana. "Our program continues to thrive as our numbers have increased every year since Coach Viggiano has taken over. A win over a team with such a rich football tradition is a big step for our program. The Pelham community is very proud of Coach Viggiano and the Pelham football program."
