Coach Victor Paternostro
Pope John XXIII H.S. – Football

Coach Paternostro graduated from Admiral Farragut Academy where he was captain of football, wrestling, and baseball, and was named All-State in football and baseball, and 2^nd in States in wrestling. He received a full scholarship to Notre Dame and then went on to Fordham for his masters. A math teacher at Pope John XXIII since 1967, Mr. Paternostro has been a member of the administration since 1978, most recently as vice principal 

Victor Paternostro is the longest serving member of the Pope John XXIII staff.  Now beginning his 43^rd year coaching football at Pope John HS, he also coached wrestling for 6 years, softball for 6 years and baseball for 4 years. In his football coaching career, he scored 354 wins, 63 losses and 5 ties.  He is a member of the Sussex County Hall of Fame, Admiral Farragut Hall of Fame, and the Queen of Peace Hall of Fame.  In ‘93 he was named Coach of the Year by the NJ Coaches Association, the NJ Herald, The Record, and the Star Ledger.  In ’04, he was the recipient of the John Bateman Winners for Life award.  Victor has coached 20 State championship teams and has been to the State finals 9 times and won 19 Sussex County Interscholastic League Championships.  Elected to the NJSIAA NJ Coaches Hall of Fame in ’07, he is also an inductee to the NJ Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

“In the 1960’s, Coach came into a football program that had the longest losing streak in New Jersey. All that changed in 1967.  Coach immediately instilled a passion, a commitment, and a will to win in every one of his players. He brought a dedication and work ethic to his coaching staff that has allowed the school to achieve great success. Coach is always there for his athletes, driving them to college, calling other coaches, preparing films, and eventually attending their weddings.  He epitomizes our school motto ‘To Be an Honor to the Father’.” –Rev. Kieran McHugh, Principal

 “I was an average student but I excelled in Mr. Paternostro’s math class.  As a senior and undecided about my future, Coach recognized my interest and potential.  He advised me to pursue accounting.  It was one of the most important decisions of my life…one which brought me success. While his legendary milestones will always be remembered, it is his genuine interest in his students, his dedication to teaching, his sound work ethic, his attention to detail and striving for excellence that his students and athletes will take with them. –James Oroho

“As a guidance counselor and a coach, my experiences with Coach are as vast as they are instrumental in helping shape my career. He molds young men into positive contributors to society. It’s about forging relationships that last a lifetime.” – Dan Rosanell
 

Coach Michael Epstein
McMahon High School - Lacrosse

Coach Epstein began his lacrosse career at Norwalk HS in ’91 and also coached field hockey and girl’s volleyball.  For the last 14 years, at McMahon, Coach developed one of the most competitive programs in Connecticut.  The Senators were State Div. II Champs in ‘00 and Div. I State Runner-up in ‘05.  Mike was awarded the Post Coach of the Year in ‘00 &‘06, FCIAC Coach of the Year in ‘07, Ct. HS Coaches Assoc. Coach of the Year in ‘05 and Ct. Lacrosse Coaches Assoc. Coach of the Year in ‘97 & ‘00.  Mike serves as the FICAC Chair and sits on the State and All-American Committees.

“Mike is the coach you wished you had on your faculty and prayed your son had a chance to play for. I have worked with Coach as a colleague, had a son who worshipped him, watched him from the sidelines as a parent, and am proud to put seventy young men in his care every season as his principal.” – Suzanne Koroshetz

“His mentoring does not stop on the field or in the classroom. Coach promotes a healthy relationship between his players and their families. For some, Coach becomes their family.”   – Capt. Jake Couch, US Army

“I have spent a great deal of time thinking about leadership over the last 8 years since committing to West Point. A successful leader commands authority and achieves a kind of respectful popularity through selfless service to the team, a total commitment that inspires and motivates every member. He sets a standard of integrity, responsibility, and meticulous attention to detail.  This gains trust and permits the leader to ask for difficult, sometimes extraordinary things. I have had the infinite privilege to lead an infantry platoon for 21 months in Iraq.  Coach was my first great leader, from whom I learned to exceed the standard.” – Capt. Chris Couch, US Army

“I was struck as much by his nurturing, fraternal relationship with his players as I was by his fiery competitiveness.” – Johnson Couch

“Good is the enemy of Great”, according to Coach. “Be great at what you do, find your passion”.  His players believe that if they do everything he asks…they will be successful. No one wants to win more than Mike but his commitment is in making sure his athletes grow into fine young men. Aside from being an outstanding lacrosse coach in a very competitive conference, he teaches his players the merits of hard work and to be responsible, independent individuals.  He helps them get into college and his guidance and counsel does not cease when they graduate. 47 of his athletes have played in college and 7 were All-Americans.  “Both our sons have written their college essays on the impact Coach has had on their lives” – Walter J. McNichols

Coach Beth Powell
Northern Valley Regional H.S. – Volleyball

Coach Powell took one of the worst volleyball programs in North Jersey and turned it into a perennial state power.  Her coaching record is 391-104, having lost 8 games and winning 123 in the past 5 years.  The Star Ledger selected her team 4 of the past 5 years as the top volleyball team in NJ.  Her teams have won 7 League Championships, 9 County, 6 State, 3 State Tournament of Champs and the Star Ledger #1 Team in the State 6 times.  For 15 years, Beth has served with the NJ State Coaches Association, the NJSCA Volleyball Coaches Clinic, co-chaired the NJ State All-Star game and was coordinator for the BCWCA Volleyball Tournament.  She received Bergen County Coach of the Year in ’96, ’00 & ’01, the Star Ledger Coach of the Year ’96, NFCA Volleyball Coach of the Year ’99, and NJSIAA Sports Award-Volleyball ‘99. 

Beth instills in her players a love of the sport through her passion, showing them how playing as a team can lead to success both on and off the court. Her team has the highest G.P.A. of any sports team in the school.  Fifteen of her athletes have played on the college level.

“Beth’s love for the game is contagious. She teaches both the mental and physical aspect of the game creating well-rounded players who grow as athletes and as individuals.  Beth did everything she could to keep the girls focused on their common goal. A large part of why I coach volleyball today is to replicate for others the incredible experience I had with Coach Powell.” – Kara Scimeca

“While many people have left an imprint upon me as a person, very few have molded me like Beth Powell.  She taught us to use our natural skills to our advantage, teaching tall girls to jump and block and quick ones how to get low and dig a ball.” -Michelle Brody

“Beth teaches her new players that glory and greatness is not just handed down.  She teaches them the meaning of that tradition, the feeling of the glory through hard work.”   – Elizabeth Paccione

“It was those times that Coach seemed impossible to please that I learned the skills and confidence I need now for life”. –Brianne Connizzo

Coach created an environment where her passion for volleyball was visible every day and she gave us the best of herself.  We all knew that as an individual and as a team… we could persevere.” -Christina Haller

“As an opposing coach, I’ve watched Beth for 12 years and learned from her that it’s not enough if a coach believes her team can win.  You need to get all of your players to take ownership of themselves and their actions, and believe in what they are doing or they will never truly achieve what they are capable of.” – Melissa Landeck
 

Coach Robert Kent
St. Francis Prep - Baseball

Since graduating St. John’s University and serving 2 years in the Novitiate and Scholasticate, Brother Kent has taught at Prep for the last 42 years.  He began as a history teacher and served as the Prep’s Athletic Director for 29 years, playing a significant role in continuing the school’s successful athletic tradition.  Brother also coached the freshman basketball team for 23 years, junior varsity baseball for 14 years, varsity baseball for the past 28 years while also teaching History and Math. He remains consistent in his dedication to the student-athletes, teaching how to be respectful and respected through sports.

As the frosh basketball coach, Brother Robert compiled a record of 386-143. His teams reached the Finals 5 times and won the City Championship twice.  His junior varsity baseball teams achieved a record of 206-41, reaching the Finals 7 times and winning 5 City Championships.  On the varsity baseball level, he notched a record of 536-238, reaching the Finals 5 times and winning the City Championship 3 times.

Brother Robert has been named Coach of the Year 5 times by The New York Daily News, 4 times by The Tablet, twice by Newsday, and twice by The New York Post.  He was also named New York State Coach of the Year in ’95 and received induction into the CHSAA Hall of Fame in ’03.  He will always say without hesitation, “Any of my success is due to the players and many coaches who have assisted me through these years.”

More than 130 of his former athletes went on to play collegiate ball and 10 have played professionally.  23 of his former student-athletes played at Ivy League universities.

Brother received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from St. Francis College in ’98.In addition to his current teaching and baseball coaching duties, Brother now serves as the Prep’s Alumni director, an important position in the school’s ongoing outreach effort.  Brother notes that “Alumni link us to the past and they give generously to continually improve and enhance the lives of those who come after them”.  The same could be said for Brother Robert himself.

He has been extraordinarily dedicated to his vocation, extremely loyal to the Prep, and a wonderful friend to anyone who has come to know him.  He is a tireless example of what it means to be a true Franciscan, coach and mentor.

“There is no one more loved by the Prep Alumni than Brother Robert.  I have witnessed this time and time again at the Alumni events over the past 20 years. I am constantly reminded of what an impact he has had on the lives of past graduates.  His dedication and commitment to St. Francis Prep speaks for itself – but the love and admiration he receives can not be measured.” –Wally Bishop
 

Coach Garr is the type of coach who won’t run up the score on another team and always demonstrates good sportsmanship toward his opponents.  His impressive record includes 3 NYS Class B Championships, 6 NYS Final, 6 NYS East Regional and 7 NYS Southeast Regional Championships, 14 Section One and 17 Section One League Championships, 25 Section One Bowl Games and 4 undefeated, untied Season.  He earned 5 Section One Coach of the Year awards, the ’05 Journal News Coach of the Year award, the ’05 NY Football Giants Coach of the Week award and received induction into the Westchester Sports Hall of Fame ’08.

“Dino has stood the test of time. Every season has been a winning season for him.  He believes in his athletes, motivates them and makes them believe they can be the best.  He raises the bar for his players and helps them achieve their goals.  Dino is a true leader and his players believe in him.  Coach will always follow through on his commitment and is a man of his word.” -Patrick Keough

 “Coach Garr stresses the point of “once a Garnet, always a Garnet”.  What clearly sets Dino Garr apart from other coaches and educators is his unwavering consistency in demanding respect and dignity from his players and teams.  He is a RHS graduate and once a young man enters his program, Dino is his advocate, mentor and task master.  He prepares him for all things demanded of a Garnet and for the rest of his life. Coach Garr has taught generations of young men the skills required to succeed on the gridiron…which I’d argue are his most important teachings”  –Kevin O’Callaghan

Coach Garr demonstrates strong compassion for those less fortunate.  Luke Walsh, a mentally handicapped student was brought into the football program as team manager by Coach. Despite his daily challenges, Luke has become the heart and soul of the team, and an inspiration as he cheers and motivates the team, coaches and the community. Then there’s the player from less fortunate circumstances that Coach took under his wing and put on a proper path.  Because of Coach as a positive role model, this player became a great student-athlete with limitless potential with plans to play collegiate football.

Over the thirty-three years since becoming Rye’s head football coach and coaching baseball as well, Dino Garr has grown and matured both in the profession and as a man.  He set and maintained Rye’s football community on a trajectory of success. He is the living embodiment of the phrase “Tradition Never Graduates”, placing him among the “deans” of Westchester County and New York State high school football.