By Phil Foley
Last week the Yonkers high school football world learned of the retirement of the head coach of the Yonkers Force, Dan DeMatteo. It came as a real surprise to many Yonkers football fans, but when we found out why it really made complete sense.
After 25 years of coaching football, first as an assistant under his Dad the Legendary Donald DeMatteo and then, as the head coach of Gorton HS and then, three years ago, when the City merged into 2 teams, he became the head coach of the Yonkers Force. (The Force is named after the Yonkers Police Department the second team the Brave is named after the Yonkers Fire Department: a tribute to two great Yonkers Public Safety Departments).
Coach Dan decided to retire because knew that he wanted to spend more time with his family especially with his son, who is ready to embark on his athletic career. His son will play in a 8 and under youth football team in Yorktown this Fall. Rumor has it Dan will be the head coach of his son’s team. From all the years that I have been writing for the Rising I have always seen his love and devotion to his family. This is the most important thing in his life!
I reached out to Dan for a comment about his pending retirement. He sent me this statement which I will print in full. “This was one of the hardest decisions in my life. In the end I thought this was the right time. During the pandemic I had time to reflect on all the things I was missing all these years with my family. My children are getting older and I will never get this time back. I am proud of the fact that I was head coach in Yonkers through some very difficult times and that I stayed the course. Football in the city of Yonkers is in a much better place today, thanks to having a Junior Varsity feeder program, Athletic Directors, a great connection with the YPD/YFD, a very talented rising senior class and a superintendent who will do whatever it takes to support our kids. With the enormous talent on the team and a very supportive administration, the program is poised to be successful this year and years to come. I will miss my kids so much and as I told them I will always be there for them. GO FORCE!!!”.
Lets look back at the highlights of Coach DeMatteo’s career: 25 years as a coach in Yonkers-.17 years as the Head Coach at Gorton HS and the Force- 4-2 Bowl Games- 2005 Section 1 Coach of the Year- 2015 Section 1 Service Award Winner – Hudson River League Champs 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Tributes have been coming in for Coach DeMatteo on his retirement. Yonkers Deputy Police Chief Joseph Monaco said: “ Dan is a friend and a mentor to many young athletes. He comes from a long line of Yonkers Football coaching legends. Congrats Dan and best wishes in your new chapter”.
The Yonkers Brave Head Varsity coach Vic Chiapa also said: “ Danny is a very good coach, I really enjoyed working with him in the past few years. We became close friends and enjoyed each others company. I am going to really miss him and I know the kids will as well”.
After each football season, Yonkers Rising gives out a Player of Award to a member of the Force and Brave teams. That award will now be called the Dan DeMatteo Player of the Year Award! All of us at Yonkers Rising want to wish Dan a very happy retirement and the best of luck in his future!
“Dan DeMatteo has positively affected the lives of hundreds of young men, many of them who were in dire need of a good male role model. He is a great coach and mentor and will further his amazing work through his role in the school system. I support Dan 100% in his decision to step away from football and wish him all the best in his future endeavors. I am proud to call Dan DeMatteo my friend,” said Det. Keith Olson.
