The Humans of RV project is a weekly column based on Brandon Stanton’s seminal “Humans of New York” project, which seeks to “catalog the city’s inhabitants” through photography and brief interviews. RV seeks to expand on this project with our own “cataloging” of RV students and an examination into all the unique perspectives here at school. 

Note: this transcript has been edited and condensed for publication purposes.

Since I started, all I focused on when I got out of college was teaching and coaching. It has always been my number one choice. I played throughout high school, then went to college and got injured. I realized what I did not get in high school from coaches motivated me to give to other kids. Getting started right out of college in my first year of teaching, I had an opportunity to work with a great group of guys. I started at Burlington Township with Tom Maderia, and some of these guys have coached with me until the very end. We spent a greater part of 15 years coaching together. When you play sports, you build those relationships. When you coach with a group of guys that are so close, long-term relationships are what keep you going. 

It is tricky balancing teaching and coaching. I have been lucky enough to work with Dr. Maniglia, who let me have 5th block off and allowed me to get my work done before I went out to practice. It is definitely a balanced effort. Teaching Anatomy and Physiology is a demanding class, which I love, but there is a lot of time involved. You have to learn how to utilize your time. 

Some of the best moments have nothing to do with what happens on the field but what happens around the field. I think some of the most prominent memories of the past 12 years here at RV are what the student body has done. I remember when we played Lenape for a conference championship at their place. I do not remember what the theme was, but every single kid in the fan club was dressed like a highlighter. They were in these bright colors and the way they stormed the field and got into the stands and the energy they gave off was second to none. I can remember standing in the locker room just watching. It felt like a million kids running by, and they were all RV fans showing up at Lenape. Just watching the fan club grow and become from when I started here to what it has become some of those years is second to none.

We always preached to the football players that life is more than football. Football ends for everybody at some point, and we have always stressed the importance of education. There is not so much of bringing my teaching out there, but the idea that everybody knows the importance of getting an education. If they are lucky enough to get into college to play football, our focal point is to get a degree. They need something to take care of them for the rest of their lives. Education is arguably the most important thing you have in life.

I will miss having every afternoon with a group of guys I have been coaching with for the last 15-20 years. We will stay friends outside of this place, but I will miss getting to see each other every day and being out there having fun.