The New York Dragons are back, and they have selected their new head coach.
The Dragons, of the Entertainment Football Association, have named Gerald Filardi Head Coach and Director of Football Operations for the 2025 season.
When I interviewed General Manager Peter Schwartz months ago, he made it a goal to hire a Long Island coach to head up this all-Long Island team and he delivered. Filardi has been the Varsity Head Coach at Half Hollow Hills West High School in Dix Hills since 2019. This past season he led the Colts to a 9-2 overall record in Suffolk County Division III including 7-1 in the regular season.
“I am thrilled and deeply honored to accept the position of Head Coach and Director of Football Operations of the New York Dragons,” said Filardi. “This organization has a proud history and a passionate fan base that deserves a team that plays with heart, discipline and innovation. Filardi is more than just your typical high school football coach. In 2012, he founded the Long Island Spartans, Long Island’s first travel football team and followed that up in 2013 with the formation of Long Island Elite Football, the region's first travel elite youth football program.
Peter Schwartz found his leader and said “The New York Dragons are thrilled to welcome Gerald as the man who will lead us onto the field for our inaugural ENTFLA season. He checked all the boxes for us in our search for a Head Coach. Gerald is a proven leader and winner who is driven to grow football on Long Island at all levels.
Filardi played linebacker at Penn State and was part of four bowl games with the Nittany Lions including the Fiesta Bowl and the 1994 Rose Bowl that capped off a 12-0 season and a national championship. He finished his high school playing career as Walt Whitman High School’s all-time leading tackler with 346. After college, Filardi went on to play professionally for the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arena Football League’s Albany Firebirds.
Filardi will now be in the process of putting together a tea. Schwartz will soon be announcing details about open tryouts. Training camp will begin in May with the 2025 season commencing on June 7th in Danbury against the Diesel. The Dragon’s home opener will be on Saturday June 14th against the New Jersey Ciphers at Nassau Coliseum.