Carrying On the Tradition: Dave Ettinger, Garden City (NY)

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The full text of “Carrying On the Tradition: Dave Ettinger, Garden City (NY)” by AFQ Staff, from the Vol 3 — Fall 2026 issue.

Carrying On the Tradition Garden City’s Dave Ettinger—121-3 in 11 seasons, 66 straight wins and the NFL’s 2025 NFC Don Shula Coach of the Year—on being multiple, winning field position and putting people first BY AFQ STAFF Dave Ettinger did not walk into a rebuild. Garden City was already one of Long Island’s proudest programs under Hall of Fame coach Tom Flatley, and Ettinger had spent more than 15 years inside it—first at the middle school, then as a varsity assistant—before he took over.

What he has done since is remarkable even by Garden City’s standards. In 11 seasons the Trojans are 121-3. They have won 10 straight Nassau Conference II championships, the 30th in school history, and five consecutive Long Island Class II titles, and they went into 2026 riding a 66-game winning streak, the longest in the nation. In February the NFL named Ettinger its 2025 NFC Don Shula High School Coach of the Year.

A four-year starting kicker and two-time All-American at Hofstra, where he played for the late Joe Gardi, Ettinger coaches a multiple offense, a field-position brand of football and a locker room where a lot of the fathers wore the same jersey. AFQ asked him about his system, his game planning, the people who shaped him and the advice he would give other coaches. In high school you can’t recruit to “your” system. We’ve always felt you need to be multiple.

AFQ: Describe your offensive system. What are its components, and why is it a good fit for your program? Ettinger: We run a multiple offensive system. We could be in 2x2 spread and double-tight Power I in the same series. In high school you can’t recruit to “your” system, so we’ve always felt you need to be multiple. AFQ: What are your in-game goals on offense, defense and special teams? Ettinger: We definitely play a ball-control, field-position style in all areas of football.

We want to play great defense, win the field-position battle and the turnover battle, and play opportunistic offense. Defensively, it’s takeaways, quarterback pressure and threeand-outs. On special teams we want to make explosive plays and keep the other team from making them. We take pride in playing good special teams, and we usually do it with backups. AFQ: What have been your most successful motivation tools—talks, events, rewards, outside voices?

Ettinger: I was lucky to take over an already successful football program, and I was lucky to have been part of it for more than 15 years before I became the head coach. Three of my coaches played in the program. A lot of the dads in our program played for the program. So our motivation has been simple: carrying on the tradition. AFQ: When you build a game plan, what are your primary areas of evaluation? What are the biggest considerations when you study an opponent’s offense and defense?

Ettinger: We try to focus on the “known” of the team we are facing. If we are prepared for what they do well, it should be easier to react to whatever they show us that is new. AFQ: Who most influenced your coaching practice and style? Ettinger: I was lucky to play in college at Hofstra for an amazing person and coach, the late Joe Gardi. He came from the NFL and really showed us what it was like to be treated as a professional.

My first varsity assistant job was in lacrosse, for my brother-in-law Chris Passuello, and I learned a lot from him. My defensive coordinator, Steve Finnell, is our boys varsity lacrosse coach. I spent more than 10 years working for him, and he taught me many of the tools we use in both sports. Finally, Tom Flatley, whom I took over for, taught all of us so much about coaching. He is a true legend who has passed, and I hope we are making him happy watching the success we have carried on.

AFQ: Where do you find new ideas today? Ettinger: These days most of our new ideas come from social media and from watching football. There are a lot of great innovators out there, and the game seems to be constantly changing.

Coaching is about people first. The wins, the championships and the success come from building the right culture and developing your players every day. AFQ: What do you think are the biggest factors in your success—player training, interaction, motivation, leadership, core strategy? And what is the most important advice you would give other coaches? Ettinger: Honestly, all of those are essential to developing success. But the most important advice I can give is to remember that coaching is about people first.

The wins, the championships and the success come from building the right culture and developing your players every day. As a coach, you have to set clear expectations and hold everyone accountable. Your players need to know what you believe in, what you stand for and what it takes to be successful in your program. A strong culture does not happen overnight. It is built through consistency, trust and doing the little things the right way every day. Teach your players that every role matters.

Not everyone will be the star player, but everyone can make an impact. The best teams are the ones where players put the team before themselves and are willing to do whatever is needed to help the group succeed. Never stop learning. Continue to study the game, learn from other coaches and find ways to get better. The game is always changing, and great coaches are always looking for ways to improve. Most importantly, build relationships with your players.

Let them know you care about them as people, not just as athletes. The lessons they learn through sports—teamwork, accountability, perseverance and how to handle adversity—will stay with them long after they leave your program. At the end of the day, coaching is about helping young people become better teammates, better leaders and better people. If you do that the right way, success will follow.

DAVE ETTINGER Garden City High School (NY) Head Coach FOOTBALL – HEAD COACH Career Record: 121–3 Career Winning Percentage: .976 Head Coach: 2016–Present Championships & Milestones • 8 Long Island Championships • 5 consecutive Long Island Championships (2021–2025) • 10 consecutive Nassau Conference II Championships • 66 consecutive victories • New York State record for consecutive football victories • Finished the 2025 season with the longest active high school football winning streak in the nation • 12–0 undefeated season in 2025 Major Coaching Honors • NFC Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year • New York Giants / Gatorade Lou Rettino High School Coach of the Year • New York State Class A Coach of the Year PLAYING CAREER – HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY • Four-year starting kicker • Two-time All-American • Set Hofstra's career scoring record with 326 points • Helped Hofstra reach the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs twice • Selected to play in the 1997 Hula Bowl • Participated in the 1998 NFL Scouting Combine