Former Ramapo football coach's new job could blaze a trail for all of North Jersey

Mike DeFazio is embarking on a new adventure, one that may alter the landscape of North Jersey athletics.

The former Ramapo football coach, who guided the Green Raiders to the Group 4 state final in 2023, was approved as the full-time strength and conditioning coach at Fair Lawn High School, starting July 1.

“I'm excited to get over to Fair Lawn,” DeFazio said Monday night. “I know a lot of people in the building. I'm excited to be a part of something new. It’s always fun building something from scratch.”

It’s a bold move for all parties.

DeFazio, 40, stepped down from his post at Ramapo in January ( the school hired Nick Guttuso from Demarest to take over ). Fair Lawn is signaling that it’s adding resources to assist with its entire athletic program. It’s the first time the school has brought on a full-time strength and conditioning coach, and it’s rare that a North Jersey school has this position on staff.

“It’s something that is not very common in this area, but it’s a really valuable position because, in many schools, somebody is assigned to the weight room and it’s often just a coverage, it’s not their first area or focus,” DeFazio explained. “Now, you’re putting somebody in there who really cares and is knowledgeable about fitness for athletes. Let’s be honest, if you want to be competing at the top level, you need to be training a lot. Your strength training needs to be at a high level.”

As a football coach, DeFazio had the difficult task of taking over a Ramapo football program reeling after the death of beloved coach Drew Gibbs in 2021. In two years, he went 20-4, keeping the program among the state’s elite. He handled the job with grace and class.

DeFazio was working as a permanent substitute teacher in the district, but did not have certification to teach in New Jersey full-time. He had originally worked at a charter school in New York, where he taught physical education for 10 years, but the rules are different in New Jersey.

It was hard to subsist on a permanent sub salary, and DeFazio recognized that even if he did get fully certified to teach in New Jersey, he wouldn’t have the time to be a new teacher with a heavy workload and full-time football coach.

“It was a great two years,” DeFazio said. “The families and the kids were wonderful and it was great football, but it was something that wasn’t going to work out long-term and I had to make a move.”

After leaving Ramapo, DeFazio wasn’t sure where he was going to wind up, but saw the Fair Lawn job posted. Current Fair Lawn Supt. Dr. Rui Dionisio was the superintendent at Ramapo/Indian Hills when DeFazio was approved there.

“Rui is a great guy, he’s very forward thinking,” DeFazio said. “He believes that athletics and academics are co-curricular, not extracurricular, and for athletes to perform, they need to be in shape and they need to be strong.”

I asked DeFazio if this wasn’t all just a ruse to eventually make him a football coach at Fair Lawn, and he had a quick answer.

“Not a chance,” DeFazio said. “Brendan Wallis is there. He’s done a very good job and in all three years he’s been the coach, they have gotten better. Now, if he asks me any questions, I will help in any way I can, but my job will be training athletes.”

If Fair Lawn becomes the next North Jersey public school sports superpower, DeFazio will surely get some credit and this whole move could be copied across North Jersey, we could see strength and conditioning coaches everywhere.

DeFazio is not sure what Day 1 will look like, but he’s ready.

“I begin with the fall teams coming in; we have 24 varsity teams plus cheer and dance, and while they may not be official varsity sports, I know they’re legit, and I will be responsible for that,” DeFazio said. “That will be a new experience for me, and managing schedules and in-season and offseason training, but it’s something I am excited to do.”

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Former Ramapo football coach's new job could blaze a trail for all of North Jersey