Joe Casarella has worked with the youth of Rockland County for the past 40 years.

Coach Casarella is a graduate of Harrison High School and received a Bachelor's Degree from Ithaca College. He was also awarded a Master's Degree in Child Psychology from Montclair State College and a Master's Degree in Educational Administration from Fordham University. Joe is presently the Director of Athletics and the Coordinator of Nurses in the North Rockland School District. Along with these duties Joe is the head football coach and district chairman of VAASA.

Athletics and youth involvement have always been part of his life. He started years ago, working for the Harrison Recreation Department and coaching a state baseball championship team back in 1966. Joe was an All-County football player at Harrison High School where he earned 9 varsity letters. He later was a member of the Ithaca College team who were Lambert Cup Champs in 1965. Joe also played lacrosse and was the team captain in 1967. Joe has served the County of Rockland and the youth of Rockland in many different ways including his efforts to raise awareness regarding substance abuse, and he was instrumental in developing M.A.A.D. in the North Rockland School District.

Coach Casarella works closely with all the youth programs in the North Rockland area, consistently lending his support to the CYO groups and the Haverstraw and Stony Point Little Leagues, along with the North Rockland Midget Football and Soccer Associations. In Joe's own words, "These programs are the reason that our high school has had so much success." He was presented with the Distinguished Service Award by the CYO. "Coach Cas", as he is called, was named the Lacrosse Coach of the Year three times and his teams were Sectional and League champs.

Coach Casarella was named Coach of the Year 18 times in football. He has been named the Section I Coach of the Year, the Daily News Coach of the Year, and the Daily News Tri-State Coach of the Year. In 1987 Joe was named New York State Coach of the Year and again in 1993. He was honored at the Downtown Athletic Club by the Heisman Committee as a Legend of Coaching. The NFL, the New York Giants and the New York Jets have honored him at the Meadowlands as Coach of the Year. Joe was named Coach of the Year in 1997 by the National Federation of Interscholastic Coaches Association and was recently inducted into the Rockland County Hall of Fame. He was honored by the NFL as the New York representative to attend the NFL Youth Forum in Canton, Ohio this past summer.

Coach Casarella is currently one of the directors of the Governor's Bowl which pits the best players from New York against the best of New Jersey. The game is played at Rutgers Stadium when played in NJ and at the United States Military Academy at West Point when playing in NY. Along with the staff and players, the "Red Raiders" of North Rockland have compiled a 25 year record of 223-33-1, 18 championships and 15 Section I titles. The Red Raiders have retired the Colgate Cup, a symbol of football supremacy in Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Dutchess counties, and have won 4 Regional Championships and 14 Bowl wins. Joe has the most coaching wins in Rockland County history and currently has the highest winning percentage of all coaches in New York State with over 100 wins.

As Athletic Director, Joe is a member of the Executive Committee of Section I Hockey, Section I Lacrosse Committee, Chairman of League B Football, and Treasurer of Conference A schools. He is Past President of the New York State Football Coaches Association and a member and presenter of the NYSAAA and a member of the Section I Athletic Council. The Distinguished Service Award from County Executive John T. Grant and from the Rockland County Legislature has been bestowed on Joe and his staff. Joe has served on the committee for the Distinguished Public Service Award of the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith of Rockland County. He has also served on the scholarship committee for the Federation of Police and received Certificates of Merit from the International Conference of Police and the Gaelic Football League.

North Rockland finished #1 in the Daily News Golden Twenty and finished in the top five in the state 14 times. The Raiders have won eight consecutive Bowl Championships. The 1987 and 1988 teams were ranked in USA Today's National High School poll. They were ranked #1 in the State and 23rd nationally in 1993. Players from North Rockland have received awards on the County, Section, State and National levels, helping them achieve their goal of college admissions.

Since 1980 North Rockland athletes have played for West Point, Rutgers, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, Lafayette, Boston University, Alabama, University of Connecticut, Temple, East Carolina, Colgate, Delaware, UCLA, Fordham, Ithaca, Wagner, Cortland, Tulane, Maryland and Arizona State. Players from North Rockland have played in ten different post-season college bowl games including the Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Sugar Bowl and the Super Bowl. In the past ten years North Rockland teams have won 140 League Championships and 61 Sectional titles, and are consistently ranked in the top 10 in state rankings. Athletes from all sports have achieved success both on and off the field under the direction and guidance given them by the North Rockland coaching staff directed by Coach Casarella. Joe helped institute the Athletic Internship Program with St. John's University and St. Thomas Aquinas College. North Rockland was one of the first districts to have a full-time Athletic Trainer employed by the District.

North Rockland also was one of the first programs to have assistant varsity coaches on all varsity sports. At the present time North Rockland has 30 varsity sports and a total of 100 athletic teams and employs 134 coaches.

Jeff Jasper - Pascack Valley High School, Hillsdale, NJ

Jeff's coaching career began when he was hired to teach at Pascack Valley.

He was a recently returned Vietnam Veteran and basking on the sunny shores of California, kicking back and enjoying life when his father called him and said there was a teaching position at Pascack Valley available. He wasn't ready to work but decided to apply. He knew he wanted to coach and the following spring he walked into the AD's office (Joe Talamo) and asked if there were any positions available. He took one look at Jeff - hair to his shoulders and dressed in one of those early 70's outfits, pointed collars, platform shoes, bell bottoms) and Joe said he'd get back to him. The next fall Jeff tried again, and was told that there would be a girl's coaching position open and if he took it for one year and trained someone, Joe would let him have the JV boys' job. Jeff gladly accepted.

After three days of practice, he walked into the AD's office and told him all bets were off - he was staying with this. He had 70 girls. They had never played (Title IX mandated the program). For the first two years he coached both varsity and JV. Then his wife, Lois, became his assistant coach for two years, raising their sons at midcourt in play pens and big wheels with chocolate doughnuts all over. During his first four years, the teams practiced in the back gym. He told the team that "until we learn, we will not practice in the main gym" - even though they played all their games in the main gym (so, it was like playing all games away). That first year they were 2-14. They have not had anything less than the 15-6 that followed since. They have won over 20 games a year for 28 straight years. They have won 28 straight NBIL championships, 12 state sectional titles, 6 County titles and 4outright state titles. The numbers of all county players and 1000 point scorers decorate the banners in the gym.

What has happened at Pascack Valley in Girls Basketball is truly amazing. Girls love to play the game; they love to be with each other; they work hard; are unselfish and sacrifice for all the right reasons for the team. In this day and age when some kids are way out of control, when it comes to self image and being self centered, these girls are so refreshing. Jeff says: "Each and every day is a joy for me. We have high expectations, we work very hard and I would say I am very demanding and intense. I have the same fire and passion today as I did when I walked into that back gym 33 years ago.

The meaning of the games pale in comparison to the smiles and sweat that the teams have exchanged. The relationships, the handshakes and the faces of every kid I have coached transcend any scores or individual highlights. As a coach, I am a teacher. The game is a simple one and I try to keep it that way. I am surrounded by great assistant coaches: Ken Harrison(28 years), Dave Lieberman(16 years), Doug Goodman(16 years), Mike Carley(20 years), Steve Goodman(20 years). They are great guys who understand the system and kids. They love kids and that makes the teaching that much easier. Of course, the parental and school support was been magnificent.

"You can not succeed as we have without having everyone on board and supportive. Of course, I cannot see myself doing anything else. My passion is in the classroom and on the court. I love teaching and coaching and I am among the luckiest people because I get to do what I love. I remember when my children were younger and people would call the house and ask for me. The response from my sons was that he is at school - not that he is at work. And there is such a subliminal message there. For school is for the young and energized. It is with great enthusiasm that I go to school each and every day."

Jeff stresses discipline, hard work and commitment. "We are all about caring about what we do and about each other. Some people say I am task master. I do not accept less than one's best effort and I feel I am responsible for teaching the game. I must provide the skills necessary to succeed at what we do and that is done with discipline and sacrifice. All of the grand clichés come into play: and I mean all of it sincerely. They're not clichés' to me."

"These kids want to play basketball. If they have the enthusiasm, we can teach the game. I have never had any real tangible goals: I believe in the moment and coach and live accordingly. Long range, I have no goals aside from doing what I am doing with the same flair and energy that I try to do everything. Treat people as I want to be treated and get the most out of every single moment. My highlights have to do with kids rather than with games. Presently I am coaching the second generation of players: Heather Zurich, whose mom played on the first four teams: Lorrie Anderson then. She started every game of her career and was the captain. And Sara Ely, whose mother is Laura Dougherty, the greatest player to ever play here. Scored over 2200 point and had a great career at Notre Dame. But, or me it has always been about the people."

Coach Tom Murray, Cardinal Hayes

Tom Murray is celebrating his 38th year as coach of the Cardinal Hayes varsity basketball team. Murray is not the dean of coaches in the CHSAA; that's a role Coach Jack Curran has enjoyed for many years, nor is he the winningest of coaches who has sent the most players on to Division I fame and NBA fortune. He has "only" won two CHSAA varsity championships - in 1990 and in 2000. Tom Murray is, quite simply, one of the best and brightest coaches in the history of New York City basketball.

His basketball coaching career began at home, coaching his St. Barnabas parish team. Coach Murray's first great player on that grammar school team was current Fordham University athletic director, Frank McLaughlin. After graduating from St. Mary's of the Plains College in Dodge City, Kansas, Tom Murray began his high school coaching career at Archbishop Stepinac H.S. in 1963, coaching both the freshman and J. V. programs. In 1968 Murray went to Cardinal Hayes and varsity basketball coach and has been a Hayesman ever since. Murray has also coached the J.V. and won a J.V. city championship at Hayes in 1968-69.

Murray's is the winningest coach in the history of Hayes. His reputation as a splendid basketball tactician, a wonderful, demanding practice coach, and an almost peerless game coach has been etched in stone for many years. He is a no-nonsense basketball teacher, who has thrown more them one student out of his basketball classroom. To Mr. Murray, the gym is a place to learn, to improve, to have fun, and to win.

One day in 1977 Mr. Murray tossed a junior point guard named James Black from practice and told him not to come back until he was ready to dedicate himself to being the best player he could possibly be. Jimmy Black came back to practice the next day and kept coming back. He went on to become the starting point guard for the 1982 national champion North Carolina Tar Heels.

"Tom Murray is one of the premier coaches in New York City high school basketball, and has been very influential in my life", says Coach Black. "I am very happy to consider him a good friend." His Hayes varsity teams have made it to the CHSAA Championship game four times, falling to eventual champ Loughlin in 1975; Tolentine in 1980, and Molloy in 1987. Murray's first championship came in March' 1990 when his Cardinals, led by current University of Kentucky first team All American, Jamal Mashburn, defeated archrival and good friend John Carey's All Hallows' Gaels.

"Jamal was, by far the best player I ever coached," says Murray. "He just about won that championship by himself."

It could easily be said that never before have so many people felt so good about a coach winning a Championship. Mr. Murray is fortunate to enjoy the best of both worlds when it comes to his vocation and his avocation. Rich Petriccione, current Director of Development at Iona College, and former student and Hayes team manager, asked Coach Murray why he had chosen the life path to become a husband, father, teacher, and coach. He rep1ied effortlessly: Having a wife and family gives me the most pleasure in life, and coaching and teaching the kids of Hayes has also given me the opportunity to experience a, real vocation in my life. I think I have the best of both worlds."

Tom has no regrets as he looks back on his 38 years at Hayes. His wife of 43 years, Mary, has been unbelievably supportive, as have been his four children, Mary Beth, Tom Jr., James and Jennifer. Tom Murray has touched the lives of all of the students he coached as well as all of the coaches who have worked with him through the CHSAA or at the Mara basketball camp.

Ed Petrie-East Hampton High School

When it was observed that he had once said winning mattered less to him as he grew older, the state's winningest public high school coach, Ed Petrie (679 and counting), offered a slight correction. "Oh, I still like to win," he said with a smile. "But as I've gone along I've made so many friendships with my former players. I've had so many good kids who have become friends of mine, who have been successful, who I still talk with a lot. That's pretty much what it's all about."

Ed Petrie was a 3-year varsity player at F. E. Bellows High School (now Rye Neck High School) Captain of 1951 team. He scored over 1000 points, including a 51-point game vs. Pleasantville H.S. He played on back-to-back county championship teams (1950 & 1951) and was selected all-S.W.I.A.C. and All Westchester County (1950 & 1951).

At Seton Hall, where he was coached by Honey Russell, Mr. Petrie played on two teams, captaining one that played in the N.I.T. tournament, then a bigger one than the National Collegiate Athletic Association's. "In 1951, C.C.N.Y. won both the N.I.T. and the N.C.A.A. Nat Holman coached that team. He retired here in East Hampton."

Drafted as a guard by the Knicks, Mr. Petrie trained with the team, but was released when the Knicks traded him for Slater Martin. He went on to play two years in the Eastern League. "There were only eight N.B.A. teams then." You couldn't make a living just playing in the Eastern League," said Mr. Petrie.

He began his physical education teaching career with a six-month stint at Longfellow Junior High in Yonkers, after which he spent two years at Eli Whitney Tech in Hamden, Conn., outside of New Haven. He coached varsity baseball there, before coming to Sag Harbor in 1958.

It was Jack Hasley, his basketball coach at Bellows (now Rye Neck) High School in Mamaroneck, who had inspired him to coach at the high school level. Bellows was probably the premier coach in Westchester County. Because of him, Ed decided as a junior in high school to go into high school coaching. "Between Jack and Honey Russell I had a very good foundation. . . . I still love the drilling. We devote some of every practice to the fundamentals."

He had never, he said, entertained any desire to become a college coach. "I like the high school level, and the teaching that it involves." Known primarily as a developer of shooters, he has had over the years some superlative ones, including Bob Vacca, Phil Carney, his own sons, Ed Jr. and Mike, Howard Wood, and his younger brother, Kenny, who still holds the state's public high school scoring record.

Recalling some of the triumphs - East Hampton, with Kenny Wood leading the way, last won a state championship in 1989 - led Mr. Petrie's visitor to observe that he had coached three of his present players' fathers - Paul Annacone, the father of Nick, Scott Rubenstein, the father of Matt, and Jerome Jefferson, whose son, Jenel Russell, is the team's chief inside threat.

The senior Annacone, who later played on the world professional tennis circuit, was coached by Mr. Petrie in the Biddy program, and played on East Hampton's freshman team before transferring to the Nick Bolletieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Fl.. Asked why he so loved basketball, Mr. Petrie, who played baseball as well in high school, began, "Well, I've always played it, since fifth grade. It's hard to explain. I had some success, and success motivates you, I enjoy it, I like to see a team develop. When that happens, it's great. And the community support here has always been wonderful. . . ."

Petrie added that he would "rather watch a good high school game or a good college game on TV than a pro game. Young players make mistakes, but they give you such a strong effort. You can see the attempt. The pros go through the motions until the end."

Coach Petrie was named one of "Eight Educators Who Make a Difference" on Long Island, by Newsday Magazine. He was inducted into Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame and into the New York State Basketball Hall of Fame (as both player & coach) He is the holder of record for most wins among public high school basketball coaches in the history of New York. He is the state winner of 17 League championships, 2 State championships, 3 Regional championships, and 4 Sectional championships over his 47 year career.