South Side High School's Dylan Coan receives school's top football honor

Dylan Coan, a South Side High School graduating senior, was honored with the Joe Hunter Award for his character, courage, commitment and contributions to the school’s football program. Dylan, an I.B. candidate who was accepted early decision to Babson College, has played football since he was 7-years-old.

The award he received is named after Joe Hunter, who lost his life on Sept. 11, 2001, doing what he loved to do. Hunter was a graduate of South Side High School who played football with as much passion, determination and honor as he gave to his profession.

Long before he understood the dangers, Hunter was love-struck by the sights and sounds of firefighting, the shiny red trucks with their bright lights and whirring sirens. The trucks from the South Hempstead Fire Department, whose firehouse was at the end of his block, could not pass his house without him racing behind on his big wheel.

So by the time he was old enough to go off to college, Hunter was no longer just dreaming of firefighting. He became a volunteer with the very department that fueled his passion. It was a feat that meant as much to him as the day in 1996 when he graduated from the New York City Fire Department Academy.

Dylan’s father was also at ground zero, as a New York Police Department chief, when the first World Trade Center tower came down. He is now the chief of police for the MTA.