The New York Jets announced today that Shawn O’Connor of Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, NY has been named this week’s recipient of the New York Jets High School Coach of the Year Award. For his efforts, O’Connor will receive $2,000 to benefit the school’s football program and will be presented with a certificate from the Jets.
The award, in its 16th year, is given to coaches in the tristate area who serve 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.
Coach O’Connor is in his 12th season as head coach of the Railsplitters. O’Connor was captain of his Lafayette High School football team in 1987. He immediately began his coaching career, while attending college, at Lafayette as an assistant coach from 1988 -96.
On Tuesday, Lincoln defeated the Erasmus Hall Dutchmen, 20-12 to win the P.S.A.L. Championship Division city title. Lincoln ends the year winning 25 of its last 26 games dating back to last season, when they fell short in the championship game. This is the Railsplitters first city title since 1992. The victory also gave Coach O’Connor his 70th overall win as a head coach, including the post season.
Previous Award Winners:
Week 1: Sean Tremblay, Comsewogue High School, Port Jefferson Station, NY
Week 2: Dominic Carre, West Hempstead High School, West Hempstead, NY
Week 3: Sean Ireland, Norwalk (Conn.) High School, Norwalk, CT
Week 4: Rick Rodriguez, Bayonne (N.J.) High School, Bayonne, NJ
Week 5: Andy Lancberg, John F. Kennedy (N.Y.) High School, Bronx, NY
Week 6: Buddy Krumenacker, Farmingdale (N.Y.) High School, Farmingdale, NY
Week 7: Tony Gonzalez, Ridgefield Park (N.J.) High School, Ridgefield Park, NJ
Week 8: Jim Giattino of Bay Shore (N.Y.) High School, Bay Shore, NY
Week 9: John Wagner, Point Pleasant Beach (N.J.) High School, Point Pleasant Beach, NY
Week 10: Vincent Ascolese, North Bergen (N.J.) High School, North Bergen, NJ
