Vinny Laino stood beyond the far side of the end zone, where family and friends meet the players. As each New York City player jogged toward him, Laino, smiling broadly, stopped him and shook his hand.
“How about those boys?” he said proudly to no one in particular after New York City’s 15-10 victory over Long Island in the 15th annual Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge at Hofstra.
Laino, New York City’s offensive coordinator for the all-star game pitting the five boroughs best against their Long Island adversaries, was the picture of serenity, a victorious coach moments after his finale.
“What a great win,” he said later. “We won this one with defense – the old fashioned way.”
The Fort Hamilton coach left a winner, after running the Brooklyn powerhouse for 20 years, winning city championships in 2005 and 2006, and finishing with a 150-60 record.
After 15 years as an assistant at Thomas Jefferson, Laino started the football program at Fort Hamilton from scratch. At the outset, Laino joked, the school didn’t have shoulder pads or helmets and kids didn’t know the difference between an out pattern and an outhouse.
But he turned the program into one of the city’s best, the highlight back-to-back city titles. The 2006 team, led by quarterback Jeffrey Legree and running back Antonio Walcott, went 13-0. It included Temple junior Jaiquawn Jarrett and Rutgers sophomore Keith Stroud.
Known for his expert offensive schemes and spread offense, Laino, 55, is revered in city football circles. His teams were known as tough, disciplined and talented, despite routinely low roster numbers in the high 20s and low 30s.
“He just teaches you so much, either about football or life or anything,” said Fort Hamilton’s Nick Fiorito, New York City’s center and place-kicker. “He is just such a good coach, a life coach, a football coach.”
The night was memorable because of the win, but also since his son, Frank Laino, made his high-school swan song, too. Vinny Laino often joked he raised his son under his desk at Fort Hamilton, that he could read a defense before a book.
He surprisingly won the job at quarterback his junior year and led the Tigers to consecutive undefeated regular seasons, the City Championship final in 2009 and semifinals in 2010.
“I feel real blessed,” said Frank Laino, who is headed to SUNY Maritime in the fall. “A lot of kids don’t get a chance to get an extra game. I got an extra chance with my dad.”
He added: “It was a really great experience that a lot of kids don’t get to experience. It had its ups and downs, but it’s definitely a better experience than most kids have.”
Vinny Laino wasn’t having any second thoughts afterward about his decision to retire. He ruled out a return, calling Fort Hamilton “the best job in the world.” Frank Laino thinks his dad will miss the sport at some point, but not now.
“He lives in the moment, so I think he’s genuinely happy,” said Frank Laino, who ran for 14 yards on 14 carries and threw an interception.
Vinny plans to move to the Midwest with his wife, Lisa, and find a new hobby and possibly even a job. He will return to see Fort Hamilton play in the fall, and will attend several of Frank Laino’s games at SUNY Maritime. His last five seasons at Fort Hamilton were memorable: five playoff appearances, the two city titles, and four semifinals berths.
“Great way to finish,” he said. “This win is the cherry on top.”