Friday, April 25, 2025
Coaches, athletes and community members gathered at Oceanside High School last Friday for the Nassau County High School Football Coaches Association’s 30th annual clinic, a full-day event centered on developing “leaders of character” through football.
The program kicked off with a coaching clinic at 4 p.m. giving high school coaches from around Nassau County a rare chance to learn directly from some of the nation’s top football minds. Dinner followed, setting the stage for an awards ceremony and keynote address by the head football coach at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Jeff Monken.
The clinic — whose theme was “Developing Leaders of Character” — brought high school and college coaches together. It was run by former Oceanside teacher and NCAA coordinator Frank Luisi, and featured several guest speakers before Monken took to the lectern.
With over 30 years of coaching experience — including a 13-year stint at SUNY Maritime — Coach Clayton Kendrick Holmes, West Point’s associate athletic director for football and chief of staff, has witnessed firsthand how sports can mold individuals into disciplined, resilient leaders.
“We’re in the business of teaching life lessons,” said Coach Holmes. “From academic support to emotional guidance, our role is to help our players become well-rounded individuals. Whether they end up in the NFL, serve in the Army, or pursue any other path, the leadership skills they learn here will serve them for life.”
Among the night’s speakers were New York Giants defensive back Elijah Riley, who came out of Newfield to play for Army, and former NFL Quarterback and Oceanside High School alumnus Jay Fielder, whose roots run deep in Long Island’s football culture.
“I grew up right here, and football has always been more than a game — it’s a way of life,” Fielder said.
Through his private coaching sessions and clinics, Fielder has dedicated himself to passing on the intricate fundamentals of offensive strategy and quarterback play, all while honoring the storied legacies of greats like John Gruden, Tom Coughlin, and Brian Billick. In his tribute to Coach Monken, Fielder recalled the early days when Monken, then a 32-year-old head coach at Dartmouth, visited his home to recruit him — a moment that foreshadowed Monken’s influence on college football.
“Coach Monken is not just an innovator on the field — he’s a leader who has redefined coaching,” Fielder said.
West Point’s program integrates rigorous academics, physical training, and leadership development into a single, immersive experience. Monken, a lifelong student of the game, emphasized that integrity and hard work form the backbone of any successful team.
“Every day at West Point, we challenge our players to be the hardest working and most selfless individuals they can be,” Monken explained. “We expect nothing less than complete dedication — both in how they perform on the field and in how they conduct themselves off it. It’s about being a servant leader, someone who is there for the good of everyone else.”
The 57-year-old Illinois native, who played for his father in high school, came from Georgia Southern to take over an Army program that had finished south of .500 in 16 of the previous 17 seasons, including 13 with three wins or less. He stands now as Army’s second all-time winningest coach, with a record of 82-57 through 11 seasons, including 5-1 in bowl games.
Last season, the Black Knights went 12-2, setting the Academy record for wins. Monken claimed several Coach of the Year awards.
Assistant Head Coach John Loose, responsible for guiding the outside linebackers at West Point, expanded on his philosophy.
“You try to coach them on everything and all because they’re kids,” he said. “We spend a lot more time than any professors going to with them. Just try to point them in the right direction all the time. Try to be hard on them when you need to. Be demanding when you need to be. You demand a lot out of them, then you’ll get a lot out of them.”
Loose also shared a personal story about his daughter, Lauren, who has been battling brain and spinal tumors since childhood. Through his foundation, which has raised over $3.1 million for pediatric brain tumor research and cancer services, Loose has seen the impact of combining a passion for football with community service.
“When a coach mentioned that his daughter lost her battle with a brain tumor, it reminded all of us why we do this—not just for the win, but to make a real difference in people’s lives,” Loose reflected.
The evening was not only a platform for sharing coaching philosophies but also an opportunity for community building. Coaches mingled over dinner, exchanging ideas on how best to nurture leadership in young athletes.
“Winning matters,” Monken said. “Being the very best you can be, and competing and winning being the best, it matters. The whole thought behind ‘oh, just participation,’ and everybody should feel good — when you put a lot into something when you invest a lot into something, it’s valuable to you. It matters, and you want it to be successful. I want to see them be successful. Our team puts a lot into the preparation for games and to compete. When you invest a lot in something, it means a lot to you.”
For many, the clinic was a refreshing reminder of football’s dual role: a competitive sport and a formative life experience.
“I want them to love the sport that they’re playing, and I want the experience that they have in football with us to help nurture that love that they have for the game,” Monken said. “I don’t want them to dislike the game because of the experience they’re having with us. It’s important that coaches, no matter what level - youth, high school, college - coach the game in a way, treat people in a way that they enjoy the game and they have fun playing it, but it’s okay to be competitive and to try to win.”
