Mandile brings a new life to Cliffside Park by Darren Cooper of The Record
Tom Mandile feels the key to reviving Cliffside Park football is already in the building.
“I feel like winning is contagious,” said Mandile, who was named the Red Raiders new head football coach on Thursday. “That’s why I am pushing multi-sport athletes. I want our kids to compete in the classroom and I want that to carry over on to the track, or the baseball diamond. If they are playing football, I want them also wrestling or playing basketball. If they don’t have the skill set for baseball. I want them to run track.”
The 36-year old has been an assistant football coach for the Red Raiders for 12 years, handling multiple roles, but originally working with the offensive and defensive lines. He also coaches freshman basketball and the throwers on the Red Raiders spring track team.
On the football field, the Red Raiders were 1-8 last season and haven’t had a winning season since 2003. They last won a sectional title in 1977.
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Mandile played football at Palisades Park. He got his degree in English from William Paterson and began teaching in Cliffside Park right out of college. He started watching game film with a colleague and was soon an assistant coach.
“I bleed black and red now, but my blue and white is near my heart,” said Mandile about his loyalty to both schools.
Mandile had his first meeting with the team Friday and said over 75 kids turned up. He’s been especially busy this past week. His wife is due to deliver the couple’s second child (a boy to be named Dominick Vincent) by Monday.
“Tom is a loyal, hardworking coach and has been an assistant for over 10 years in football, basketball and track,” said Cliffside Park athletic director John Lombardo. “I feel he has matured over the years and built a positive culture with the student-athletes in our school. Tom being in the building will help the football program back to its winning ways.”
The 6-foot-5 Mandile cuts an imposing figure and usually surprises people when he tells them he’s an English teacher. But he’s just as comfortable discussing the classic works of American literature as he is talking about the run-pass option.
Mandile’s first aim is to inject some enthusiasm into the program. He said that he is going to revamp the team’s offseason workout regimen and bring in some new faces and alumni to work with the players.
“I feel like the pieces are here for us to be successful,” said Mandile. “It will take a lot of commitment from our student-athletes. It’s a huge challenge, but the coaches are onboard and if the student-athletes buy in, I think we can be competitive next year.”