Remembering legendary Bethpage football coach Howie Vogts
Howie Vogts holds up one of the 35 county/league championship trophies he won during his 56 years as head coach of Bethpage's football team. (Sept. 13, 1995) Credit: Newsday / J. Conrad Williams Jr.
Howie Vogts, who coached the Bethpage football team for the last 56 years, passed away on Friday at the age of 80 from congestive heart failure.
Vogts' 364 career victories are tops in the state. He finished with a career record of 364-124-10, 35 regular-season conference championships, 16 playoff conference titles, three Rutgers Cups and five Long Island championships.
Said Richie Millet, Vogts' assistant for more than 20 years: "He was a difference-maker in the lives of hundreds of people. He was always there to help someone and he was always there to guide them. He was more than a football coach. He was like a father figure to many."
To read a full retrospective of Vogts by MSG Varsity's Gregg Sarra, click here. For more on Vogts from Gregg, click here.
