|
| Steve Marino is 118-113-1
entering the final three weeks of the regular
season. Westfield athletics photo |
Westfield State long-time football head coach Steve Marino has
announced his retirement, effective the end of the 2013 season.
Marino, completing his 24th year at Westfield State, will be
coaching his final home game this Saturday, Nov. 2, when the Owls
host Fitchburg State. Westfield concludes the 2013 season with road
games at Worcester State (Nov. 9) and Western Connecticut State
(Nov. 16).
"Steve Marino has been synonymous with Westfield State football
for 24 years. I want to thank him for all the time and dedication
he has given to our student-athletes and the program," said
Westfield State athletics director Richard Lenfest. "Steve is a
class act who put in an enormous amount of time and effort to make
Westfield State football a successful program, and you don't see a
lot of coaches stay at one institution for 24 years. He has set the
standards for our program, led the team to an unbeaten season and
an NCAA bid, and has recruited and coached players who have written
and re-written our record books. It's been a real pleasure to work
with Steve for the nine years I have been at Westfield State."
"I want to wish Steve, his wife, Betsy, and his family the best
going forward. His entire family has been dedicated to our program
through the years and I know that he, and they, will both enjoy the
new-found time that they will be able to spend together during the
football season," Lenfest continued.
"I can't believe it's been 24 years, the time flew by," said
Marino. "It was a hard decision and I am going to miss coaching,
especially on Saturdays, but it's the right time for me to do it. I
am looking forward to spending more time with my family and
grandkids.
Marino, 64, has the third longest tenure among active coaches in
New England Division III football, trailing only Springfield
College's Mike DeLong (31 years) and Worcester State's Brien Cullen
(28 years). The Owl mentor has been roaming the sidelines for 24 of
the 32 years that Westfield State has fielded a varsity football
team. He has coached 232 games with a record of 118-113-1,
highlighted by three consecutive New England Football Conference
championship game appearances in 2001, 2002, and 2003.
"Coach Marino put competitive teams on the field each year," said
Lenfest. "Westfield State and New England football are going to
miss him."
Marino guided the 2001 Westfield squad to its first and only perfect
regular season, a 10-0 record. The Owls won the New England
Football Conference championship and qualified for the NCAA
playoffs.
During the special 2001 season, Marino was selected the American
Football Coaches Association Northeast Region Coach of the Year,
the New England Division II/III Coach of the Year, and the Gridiron
Club of Greater Boston Division II/III Coach of the Year.
Marino was named the Westfield State head coach in the spring of
1990.
"I have a lot of fond memories of my time spent at Westfield
State," he said the day he was hired to coach his alma mater. "The
college gave me a lot and I feel I owe it something in return."
Marino received his B.A. degree in 1971 and his master's degree in
1978 from Westfield State. He taught English at Ludlow High School
for 29 years, then moved into an administrative post as dean of
students for five years before retiring in June of 2006.
Marino's coaching career spans a total of 41 years. The 1967
graduate of Springfield Classical High School coached football at
Ludlow High School for 16 years, including an eight-year stint as
the head coach from 1979-86. He served as defensive coordinator at
Western New England University in 1987 before returning to Ludlow
as an assistant in 1988.
"I loved coaching at Westfield State," said Marino "I am going to
miss the kids and I am going to miss the coaches."