UNIONDALE, L.I. — Monsignor Farrell varsity football coach Rocco Del Priore was the recipient of the CHSFL’s annual Mario Valentini Award after being chosen the league’s Coach of the Year, the Advance/SILive.com has learned.
Del Priore was one of four Staten Islanders to be recognized by the CHSFL during its annual Communion Awards Breakfast at Kellenberg Memorial HS on Sunday.
Two Island players were among those chosen for the league’s prestigious Monsignor Peters Memorial Golden Eleven Award, including Farrell’s Andrew Doyle and St. Joseph by-the-Sea’s John Kournidakis.
St. Peter’s kicker Vincenzo Coppola, meanwhile, was the recipient of the AA-1 division’s Special Teams Player of the Year Award.
Del Priore, a former two-year varsity starter who is in his fourth year as the Lions’ varsity head coach, earned the Valentini award after leading the Oakwood school to a 9-2 record overall and an appearance in the CHSFL AAA championship game just a few weeks back. In between, he led Farrell to an undefeated league record during the regular season; the subsequent top seed for the top-tier playoffs; and a No. 2 state-ranking at the time of the championship game.
“Coach Del Priore is the steady hand and passionate heart of the Monsignor Farrell football program. His leadership, commitment to developing young men, preparation, and love he pours into our program inspires his players, coaching staff, and our football alumni,’’ said Farrell president Lou Tobacco in a prepared statement. ”He embodies everything Farrell stands for, and we could not be happier to have him as the head of our football program.
“We congratulate him on being named the CHSFL Coach of the Year, for guiding our Lions to the CHSFL AAA Division championship and a No. 2-ranking in New York State.”
Those chosen to the Golden Eleven are acknowledged for both academic and athletic excellence. The Island has had at least one recipient since 2009.
Doyle was a starting senior linebacker for the Lions while Kournidakis was a starting junior offensive lineman for the Vikings.
Coppola, meanwhile, was equally effective as the Eagles’ kicker and punter during the 2025 campaign. The three-year varsity player was 21 for 23 in extra-point attempts and nailed each of his four field goal attempts.
The senior, who also played wide receiver for St. Peter’s, averaged nearly 35 yards per kick on punts.