MacArthur football team surprised but supportive after coach Bob Fehrenbach's decision to retire
Members of the MacArthur football team: From left, Tyler Centonze, Connor Schmidt, assistant coach Steve Fazzolari, Vinny Szucs and Ethan Shapiro during a Nassau Football Media Day event for Conference II teams on Wednesday in Oceanside. Credit: Dawn McCormick
The gravity of the moment was not lost on MacArthur quarterback Vinny Szucs. The two-year captain listened as his head coach Bob Fehrenbach informed the team Monday he was stepping away from the program and into retirement.
It was the first day of practice and Szucs, in his third year of varsity ball, said he was shocked at Fehrenbach's announcement.
“He’s the greatest coach,” Szucs said at Tuesday's Nassau County football media day. “I went over to him to speak privately afterward. I told him it was a pleasure and privilege to play for him these past two years. And we’ll miss him.”
Senior linebacker Ethan Shapiro said he was stunned by Fehrenbach's decision to retire.
“I love Coach Fehrenbach,” Shapiro said. “I totally support his decision. He has given so much to our football program, and he felt it was time. He left us in good hands. Our coaches had us locked in during our last few practices.”
Fehrenbach resigned after Monday's practice from the job he has held for 28 years, citing a lack of connection with his players. The 59-year-old retired as a physical education teacher in 2025 and said not being around the students all day affected his work as the football coach.
“He was deeply involved with his players and with that connection lost, decided to step away,” said Carey coach Mike Stanley, who attended the Ryder Cup with Fehrenbach and became a golf buddy. “I can’t say I’m surprised that he stepped away, but I’m happy for him. Now he can spend time with his family. He just became a grandfather, and I know that’s important to him.”
Stanley’s Seahawks and Fehrenbach’s Generals were rivals in Nassau Conference II football. The two met in the regular season and sometimes in the quarterfinals or semifinals of the conference playoffs for the past 20 years.
“Bobby always did everything right,” said Stanley, in his 20th year as head coach. “His players were always a class act and respectful. And what people probably don’t know is how many countless committees he volunteered his time for or how much he mentored the younger coaches, including myself. Bobby was so friendly and had a profound effect on anyone he met. He was a great coach and an even better person.”
Fehrenbach led MacArthur to the regular-season Nassau Conference II crown in 2002 and 2019 and the Long Island Class II championship game in 2002 and 2015. His career record was 151-97-2.
Levittown District recently named Jeff Aiello the interim director of athletics and posted the opening for a head coach. The three assistant coaches, Steve Fazzolari, Tommy Bobal and Ryan Cunningham, are running practice in the meantime.
Fazzolari, who has worked in the district for 21 years and now serves as the Dean of Students in the high school, said working with Fehrenbach was a gift.
“I’ve been the defensive coordinator for Bobby for the past 20 years,” Fazzolari said. “He is a coach everyone should emulate — good for kids, good for the community, just an all-around great guy. He made us better coaches and even better as people.”
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.
