John Palladino, head coach of the Hewlett High School varsity football team, has always believed that actions speak louder than words. He has carried that attitude with him, he said, since he first picked up a football at age 7, and this year it helped him win the Jim Barbanell Memorial Service Award.
Palladino got a call a week before the Nassau County High School Football Coaches Association’s 59th annual Gridiron Dinner on Dec. 10, notifying him of his recognition for his service to Nassau County high school sports. The award commemorates the life of the late Jim Barbanell, a Newsday reporter whose passion was covering and supporting local high school sports.
“It’s nice when your peers recognize you,” Palladino said in an interview with the Herald. “It was a wonderful surprise.”
Beyond his responsibilities at Hewlett High, Palladino has overseen the Nassau County All-Star football game, played each Thanksgiving Day at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium for the past six years, and sells 50-50 raffle tickets throughout the year to support Nassau County football. East Rockaway varsity coach Russell Pajer, one of 10 chairmen of the Gridiron Dinner, said it was an easy decision for the association’s committee.
“He’s been a huge asset,” Pajer said of Palladino. “He has been very involved.”
Palladino played offensive tackle and defensive end at Lawrence High School, and went on to play at Nassau College, now Nassau Community College. He began his coaching career at Lynbrook High School in 1992, and then spent five years coaching the defense at Lawrence High before coming to Hewlett, where he has coached for 24 years.
Palladino’s wife, Nicole, and his sons, Luke and Drew, have always supported him. Luke and Drew played football and lacrosse at Wantagh High, and Drew wants to become a health and phys. ed. teacher and a coach, like his father.
“Their support is great. My wife takes my mom to the games,” Palladino said. “Our family calendar revolves around football season.”
He strives to be a mentor to his players, and encourages them to have a positive impact on the community. Last October, Palladino and some 30 members of the Hewlett High varsity team took part in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk at Jones Beach — a display of teenage character that their coach said he was proud of.
“We try to teach kids that football is important, but we’re also trying to help get the kids ready for life after football,” Palladino said.
Teaching health and phys. ed. in addition to coaching, he said, keeps him young. When school closes for extended breaks, he gets antsy: The district’s two-week break for Christmas, he added, was too long.
“I love going to work every day,” Palladino said. “I’m one of those nerds that can’t wait to go to work.”
Palladino was mentored by Hewlett football legend Jay Iaquinta, for whom he served as defensive coordinator for 15 seasons. “I admired him for his passion and his love for the game,” Palladino said.
He and Iaquinta remain close friends, and Palladino said that the one thing he always remembers is to “stay as even-keeled as possible.”
In recent years Palladino has become a different kind of mentor, off the field, helping new teachers at the high school get to know the building and develop their classroom management skills. He also checks their progress reports and tweaks the curriculum.
“We want to make sure new teachers understand what’s expected of them and help them thrive, in both the building and the district,” he said.
In a statement, the district applauded Palladino for his efforts, saying the Barbanell award was a well-deserved honor and “speaks volume” to his character. “His tireless dedication continues to make a lasting impact on our student athletes and the greater football community,” the statement read.
As the years have gone by, Palladino said, his desire to help the community has been fueled by his football background and his district colleagues who help “pull the rope in the same direction.” He thanked Hewlett Athletics Director David Viegas, Secretary Melanie Rosen, and the district’s administration and board for their support.
“I’m at the stage in my life where I want to be a mentor,” Palladino said. “I still want to help kids, coaches, give back and pay it forward. That’s why I love what I do.”
