They are the product of hard work, dedication to the student-athlete and talented coaching.
Here in the Delaware Valley, there are two football coaches -- Dave Caldwell and Todd Smith -- who have never shied away from hard work, are truly dedicated and the success of their programs reflect their determined effort.
It is because of their commitment to the student athlete and their respective schools that they are the very worthy recipients of the Hank Johns Coaches Award to be presented at the Delaware Valley Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame's 63rd Annual George Wah Scholar-Leader-Athlete Awards Dinner.
The Awards Dinner this year is in honor of Robert F. Casciola.
The dinner is Sunday, March 9 and begins at 2 p.m. at Princeton Marriott at Forrestal. Scholar-leader-athletes from 21 schools in Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean counties are being honored with $31,500 in scholarships awarded. For dinner/ticket information contact Steve Tuckerson at 609-202-4166 or email [email protected].
While all scholar-leader-athletes will receive at least a $1,000 scholarship, the Delaware Valley Chapter will also present the following top scholarships: $5,000 - Jack Stephen Scholarship, $4,000 Steven "Coach Gaz" Gazdek Scholarship, $3,000 Ron Rick Sr. Scholarship, $2,000 Ed Cook Scholarship and $1,500 Ed "Windy" Morris Scholarship.
The high school Scholar-Leader-Athlete seniors being honored are Allentown's Christian Macaluso, Bordentown's Harrison Kertes, Burlington Township's Isiah N'Diaye, Ewing's Brandon Ball, Florence's Robert Sobon, Hamilton West's Jacob Smith, Hightstown's Michael Fowler, Hopewell Valley's Milan Desai, Hun's Liam Thorpe, Lawrence's Mahmoud Ali, Lawrenceville's Benjamin Lahlou, New Egypt's Aidan Healy, Notre Dame's Wyatt Moore, Nottingham's Carlos Almonte, Peddie's Eric Cho, Pennington's Jack Fermo, Princeton's Sean Wilton, Robbinsville's Ryan Emigholz, Steinert's Jonathan Weaver, Trenton's Edward Hill, and West Windsor-Plainsboro's Conor Sattiraju.
Tommy Matheson is the recipient of the Judge Arthur Lane/Princeton University Scholar-Leader-Athlete award, Jack Centrelli is the recipient of the Earl H. Dean/The College of New Jersey Scholar-Leader-Athlete award and Chase Gallagher, of the Hopewell WJFYL, is being recognized as the Chapter's Little Scholar.
The NFF Gold Medal is the highest individual award bestowed by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame. For the first time in its history, the Delaware Valley Chapter presents this award, posthumously to Robert F. Casciola. Casciola was head coach at Princeton University before spending 15 years as Executive Director and then President of the NFF. The Chapter's Distinguished American Award is named after Casciola.
Joe Camillone (ATC) is the recipient of the George O'Gorman Contribution to Amateur Football Award, Rich McGlynn (Bordentown) will be the recipient of the John McKenna Assistant Coaches Award, Don Ellison is the Jack Milliard Officials Award honoree, Zachary Mack is being honored as the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Champion Award, Blair Thompson (Pennington School) will receive the Nick Gusz "Good Guy" Award, and Greg Johnson, of The Trentonian, will receive the Tony Persichilli Meritorious Service Award.
"This award is a reflection of where our program has gone to,'' said Caldwell. "Starting in 2004 with the first varsity team and having success. We have had success for three or four years now and I believe it's because of my assistant coaches. I have coached most of these kids as youth players and they are great kids.''
Caldwell is the only coach Hopewell Valley has known since the program began in 2004.
"There was a lot of controversy around it when it first started,'' recalled Caldwell. "I just focused on what I knew about football and what it could offer not only the kids, but the school and the community. I wanted to make sure the kids enjoyed their experience.''
From the 2021 season to the 2024 season, Caldwell has guided the Bulldogs to an unbelievable 28-4 record, included in those numbers are two undefeated regular seasons.
It has been an amazing stretch of success Caldwell has brought to Hopewell Valley.
Smith is another coach who just breeds success on the sidelines and in the growth and development of the student athlete.
The Hun coach has previously won the award and the Delaware Valley Chapter holds a special place in his heart.
"This banquet is one of the most special events in high school football because it recognizes what the game is truly about -- developing young men who excel both on the field and in the classroom,'' said Smith. "The Delaware Valley Chapter Scholar-Athlete Banquet highlights the values that make football such a powerful sport: discipline, leadership, resilience, and commitment to excellence in all areas of life.''
From his successful days at West Windsor-Plainsboro South where he qualified for the state playoffs seven of eight years, to his four undefeated seasons at Hun, his eight Prep A state titles and many more championships, it's has been a labor of love for Smith.
"Every season brings a different group of players, unique challenges, and its own journey. The hard work, dedication, and brotherhood that go into earning something like this make it meaningful every time. It's not just about the trophy -- it's about the memories, the relationships, and the lessons learned along the way.''
Smith credits the tireless work of his assistant coaches.
"They put in countless hours behind the scenes, making sure our team is prepared and in the best position to succeed,'' credited Smith. "I'm grateful to have such an incredible staff, and this achievement is just as much theirs as it is the players.''
Smith has long been a presence at the awards dinner and he's grateful to be a part of it.
"It's a privilege to be part of an event that brings together the best and brightest student-athletes, honoring their hard work and dedication,'' Smith stated. "This dinner not only celebrates their achievements but also reinforces the importance of education and character, which are the foundations of long-term success. It's a reminder that football is more than just a game -- it's a platform for growth, opportunity, and lifelong lessons.''