Anthony Cerullo, former John Glenn High School football coach and athletic director, dies at 83
Anthony Cerullo Credit: The Cerullo family
Anthony Cerullo of East Northport was well known as a master motivator. He commanded authority with a fiery yet charismatic style, especially for his high school football players. He was celebrated for his ability to extract peak performance from players and assistant coaches alike throughout a 21-year coaching career.
Cerullo continued his impact as the director of athletics at John Glenn High School in Elwood for another 14 years. He died at his home surrounded by family on July 24 of natural causes. He was 83 years old.
“His biggest strength was the ability to motivate and inspire people,” said Dave Shanahan of Holbrook, who was hired by Cerullo to coach varsity football in 1995, the start of a successful 30-year career. “He gave me my first coaching opportunity. He helped guide me through those critical first couple of years and his impact on me was life changing in a lot of ways. He was so supportive as I learned how to be an impactful physical education and health teacher and a coach.”
Cerullo was born in the Bronx in 1943. He attended Our Lady of Grace Elementary School and went on to graduate from DeWitt Clinton High School in 1961. As a senior, Cerullo quarterbacked the Governors to a New York City championship and was named to the All-City team.
He played football for Ithaca College in Division III and got his first taste of coaching as a graduate assistant for the Bombers in 1965. The team went undefeated.
“I’ll never forget how we met in the cafeteria at Ithaca College in 1962,” said longtime friend Fred Fusaro of East Northport, who was recently inducted into the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame. “He was a year older than me and such a personable and funny guy. My senior year I played nose guard and we became the first undefeated football team in Ithaca history. Tony was a grad assistant that season while earning his Master’s degree in health education.”
The two became the best of friends. Fusaro called it a "forever friendship" and said, "Tony became a wonderful family man. A man with a strong spiritual side who felt you can learn from everything that happens in life."
Cerullo landed his first high school coaching position as the offensive coordinator for Syosset High School in 1967. He spent three years there before accepting the head coaching position at Dobbs Ferry High School in Westchester County. His record over two years was a humbling 0-16.
“He recalls that as a time afforded to him by God so that he could learn to become a good high school football coach,” Shanahan said. “He always found the positive meaning in an experience. He had a deep belief in Christ and his family. And it helped him navigate everything in his good morals and values.”
Cerullo spent 21 years coaching football, from a graduate position at Ithaca to head coach at John Glenn. He continued to impact the Elwood community as the district’s director of athletics from 1986 through 1999.
He was the fifth head coach at John Glenn in 1974, remaining in the position for 12 years. He compiled an 81-23-3 record and qualified for the playoffs with seven league titles in 12 years, earning coach of the year seven times.
John Glenn was presented with the Rutgers Trophy in 1979 as Suffolk’s best football team. Cerullo was inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.
“My dad was a man of faith and a mentor to so many young men,” said his son Peter Cerullo of St. James. “And we’re so proud of his legacy. He always had encouraging words for young men in guiding them in life. His faith in Christ allowed him to do that in a very powerful way.”
Matt Heldberg of Smithtown, who graduated from John Glenn in 1985, played quarterback for Cerullo.
“You came in as a young boy and left as a man,” Heldberg said. “Coach Cerullo treated everyone equal. Certainly, a great motivator in unique ways. He motivated each player differently based on their personality. Kids that were too loud, he quieted them down. And kids that were quiet, he got them to speak.”
Heldberg said Cerullo followed him throughout his football career at Lehigh University.
“He kept in touch to see how I was doing. The relationship changed into a friendship, and he cared about me as a man instead of a football player. My son Matt Jr. played football at Smithtown West in 2014. His coach – Peter Cerullo – a full circle moment.”
He is survived by his wife Carmela Cerullo of 56 years, and four sons: Anthony of East Branch, New York, Joseph of Syosset, Peter (Laura), and Matthew (Heather) of Commack; his brother James (Camille) of Smithtown and 10 grandchildren.
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.
