The New York Jets announced today that Fred Caprista of George Washington High School in New York City has been named the recipient of the New York Jets High School Coach of the Year Award. For his efforts, Caprista will receive $2,000 to benefit the school's football program and he will be presented with a certificate from the Jets.
The award, in its 13th year, is given to a coach in the tristate area who serves the best interests of the game through the teaching of sound football fundamentals, the motivation of young players to achieve, and the promotion of youth football by way of dedication to their community, their school and their student-athletes.
Caprista is in his first season as the head coach of the George Washington Trojans. The 1984 Sheepshead Bay High School alumnus previously coached wide receivers and defensive backs at Fort Hamilton High School during its back-to-back B Division championships in 1991 and '92. He graduated Brooklyn College with a degree in physical education and currently instructs in that field at George Washington.
On Nov. 23, George Washington defeated the Far Rockaway Sea Horses, 20-14, to win the PSAL Cup Division championship, its first football championship since 1988. The win avenges the season-opening defeat to the Sea Horses and improves the Trojans' record to 10-1 as they closed out the season with a nine-game winning streak.
2008 High School Coach of the Week Award Winners
Week 1: Matt McCloskey, Fairfield-Ludlow HS, Fairfield, CT
Week 2: Rob Pickert, Hackley School, Tarrytown, NY
Week 3:John Power, Hillside HS, Hillside, NJ
Week 4:Rich Conklin, Nanuet HS, Nanuet, NY
Week 5: Scott Benoit, Hamden HS, Hamden, CT
Week 6: Brain Walsh, John Jay HS, Hopewell Junction, NY
Week 7: Chris Beagan, Monroe HS, Monroe Township, NJ
Week 8:Joe DeSiena, Xaverian HS, Brooklyn, NY
Week 9: John Catano, Croton Harmon HS, Croton-on-Hudson, NY
Week 10: Rich Gianchiglia, Middlesex HS, Middlesex, NJ
