DOMINICK DEMATTEO HEAD VARSITY COACH FOOTBALL

Dominick A. DeMatteo is a 1990 graduate of Roosevelt High School in Yonkers where he was a three-year starter on the varsity football team as a defensive back and quarterback.  DeMatteo was honored as a three–time All-City and two-time All-Section player.  However, he is most proud of receiving the Con-Edison Scholar-Athlete of the Week award in 1989 for his performance against Mount St. Michael and his achievements in the classroom.  DeMatteo attended Albany State University from 1990 to 1994 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Philosophy.  He earned two letters as a quarterback and played in the American Bowl in Paris, France.

Coach DeMatteo was awarded a graduate assistantship from C.W. Post College with the football program during the spring of 1994.  He served as the assistant quarterback coach in 1994 and was promoted to receivers coach in 1995 while pursuing a masters in Public Administration.  DeMatteo was also employed by the Levittown School District as a Dean in Division Avenue High School.  In 1996 he returned to Roosevelt High School to work as a Dean, and coach with his father, legendary coach Tony DeMatteo.  Together they led Roosevelt to a 12-0 record and the New York State AA Championship.  In 1997 DeMatteo briefly left education to pursue a career in the private sector with Morgan Stanley / Dean Witter as an Account Executive.  He remained on staff at Roosevelt and helped guide the Indians to another successful season as 7-2 bowl champions.             

 The 1998 season marked DeMatteo’s return to college coaching at Columbia University.  He served as the assistant defensive backs and special teams coach.  In January 1999 Dave Clawson, presently the Head Coach at Richmond University, hired DeMatteo at Fordham University.  DeMatteo coached for the Rams from 1999-2003 serving in numerous roles with various responsibilities.

DeMatteo was the running backs coach for five seasons (’99-’03) and special teams coordinator for two seasons (’02-’03).  He also served as recruiting coordinator for two seasons (’02-’03).  DeMatteo was an active recruiter nationally, in California, and regionally, in Pennsylvania and Connecticut for five seasons (’99-’03).  He was the administrative liaison for admissions, financial aid, and travel during his tenure with Fordham. 

The Fordham staff led a program which had endured 12-straight losing seasons, to a resurgence which produced the 14th-best winning percentage in I-AA football over their final three seasons (73 percent/26-10 record). The Rams' 19 combined wins in 2002 and 2003 were the most in back-to-back seasons since 1918-19.  In 2002, the Rams won their first-ever conference championship and I-AA national playoff appearance.  That Fordham squad defeated Northeastern University in the playoff's first round and finished the fall ranked No. 12 nationally.  The Rams backfield was led by Kirwin Watson (tailback) and Alemayo Whyte (fullback) who were both selected as First Team All-Patriot League members.  Watson and Whyte represented the first tandem of running backs from the same school to be selected First Team in Patriot League history.  As special teams coordinator, DeMatteo led one of the top special teams squads in the Patriot League.  The Fordham kickoff and punt return units were both ranked second in the league with Javarus Dudley and Dan McGrath finishing second in the league in kickoff and punt return average, respectively.  Nationally, the Fordham punt return unit was ranked eleventh in I-AA, with McGrath ranked 12th, while the kickoff return unit was ranked 38th, with Dudley ranked 33rd.  In the kicking game, Fordham’s Matt Fordyce was named First Team All-Patriot League as both a punter and a place-kicker, the first player to do so in Patriot League history.

In 2003, the Rams went 9-3 and boasted the league's best scoring offense (32.9), pass offense (260.2), pass defense (171.5) and field goal percentage (78.6).  Watson became the all-time leader for Fordham University in rushing (4,617 yards), touchdowns (48), and points (300) while earning numerous individual honors.

Upon completion of his recruiting responsibilities after the 2003 season DeMatteo resigned from the Fordham staff in March 2004.  His decision to leave Fordham and college football was due to his desire to pursue a career teaching Physical Education and coaching high school football while spending more time with his family.  Since departing Fordham, DeMatteo has been employed by the Yonkers Public School District, and has coached at Somers High School while pursuing his masters in Physical Education at Brooklyn College.

DeMatteo resides in Mahopac with his wife Dianne and their two sons, Anthony (2) and Dominick (6 months).  Dianne is a successful Creative Director for East West Marketing Group on site with Kraft Foods, Inc. in Tarrytown.