Jeff Remo steps down as Mahwah head coach by Chris Iseman of The Record
Jeff Remo wrestled with the decision, but ultimately decided that his 20th season as Mahwah’s head football coach would be his last.
After more than 100 victories and state championships in each of the last two seasons, Remo this week stepped down as the Thunderbirds’ head coach.
Remo, who finished with a 121-87 record, said he told athletic director Roger Pelletier after Mahwah won its second straight North 1, Group 2 title on Dec. 4 that he would make a final decision around Jan. 1.
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The Mahwah graduate said the week after Christmas was like a “roller-coaster” as he went back and forth on whether he not he should step down.
“I finally came to the conclusion that if I’m not 100 percent yes, then it’s probably time,” Remo said.
He informed his players during an emotional meeting earlier this week.
“It was very difficult. Very,” Remo said. “I thought I could handle it pretty easily. But when you’ve got 50 guys sitting in a room looking at you, it was very difficult.”
Remo will continue to coach baseball at Mahwah. He’s 18 wins away from 200. Remo also won more than 100 games as the Thunderbirds’ softball coach from 1995 to 2000.
As difficult as the decision to step down as the head football coach was, the year-round nature of the job was a significant factor.
Remo’s son, Ryan, is a sophomore at Fordham University and pitches for the baseball team.
“I’ll be able to watch him play more this summer, and obviously fall baseball,” Remo said. “It was time.”
Pelletier said he hopes to have Remo’s successor in place as soon as possible, but not at the expense of a thoughtful search.
“We’re not going to rush the process, but we know it’s something we can’t take our time with,” Pelletier said.
Whomever becomes the Thunderbirds’ next head coach will take over a program that reached tremendous heights under Remo’s guidance.
Remo took over in 1997, and Mahwah went just 1-18 in his first two seasons. But that was only the start of a major transformation.
In the ensuing years, the Thunderbirds made 11 playoff appearances, won four division titles and two state championships.
Mahwah went 22-2 in his final two seasons.
“He’s basically poured his heart and soul, time and energy into that program,” Pelletier said.
But Remo really started doing that long before he became the Thunderbirds’ head coach.
Remo was a waterboy and ball boy for Mahwah head coach Ed Caporale as a child, listening to pre-game and half-time speeches before he even reached high school.
Remo eventually played for Caporale as a quarterback and defensive back, helping to lead the Thunderbirds to state championships in 1978 and 1979.
He then played at the University of Texas at El Paso, where Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter were on the coaching staff.
After his playing days ended, coaching was an obvious next step.
“Once I was done playing sports, what could I do with my life?” Remo said. “Certainly there was no hesitation that I wanted to be a coach.”
He assisted Caporale for seven years before taking over as head coach. Now Remo steps down after two state championships.
“That’s certainly a nice way to go out,” Remo said.