Patchogue-Medford's Gary Marangi wins Jets high school coach of the week award
Patchogue-Medford boys varsity football head coach Gary Marangi watches his team play against Connetquot. (Sept. 11, 2013) Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
Patchogue-Medford football coach Gary Marangi was named the recipient of the New York Jets high school coach of the week award for the tri-state area. Marangi, in his second year as head coach, led the Raiders to a 31-7 upset victory over Floyd, the two-time defending Long Island Class I champions on Friday night.
Marangi, a dean in the high school, will receive $1,000 toward the school's football program. It was a huge win for the Patchogue-Medford program, which hadn't beaten Floyd since 2002, the year the Raiders won the Class I title.
Patchogue-Medford's Anthony Lee threw for 292 yards and four touchdowns and Connor Coughlin caught six passes for 114 yards and two TDs.
"I'm very appreciative as is our high school principal of the many contributions of Gary Marangi," said Tom Combs, the district athletic director. "We see his influence everywhere from the classroom to the field. He's an outstanding individual. He has developed a relationship with the students in school and it's translating onto the field."
Marangi, an All-Nassau selection at Elmont High School in 1969, went on to Boston College and played three seasons in the NFL at quarterback with the Buffalo Bills. He won LI Class I titles as the offensive coordinator at Patchogue-Medford in 2002 and at Connetquot in 2008.
"Gary came in and implemented the spread offense," Combs said. "And we saw a marked improvement last year in his first season. This year we're seeing that the players are upbeat and into the program and figuring out how to win. He also started a touchdown club that has helped get the parents and the community involved to raise the school spirit."
The Jets award, in its 18th year, is presented to a coach who serves the best interests of the game through the teaching of sound fundamentals, the motivation of young players to achieve, and the promotion of youth football by way of dedication to its community, school and its student-athletes.
