The Jets announced today that Dennis Hard of Westwood High School in Westwood, NJ has been named this week’s High School Coach of the Week Game Changer presented by Visa. Coach Hard will receive a $2,500 donation to benefit the school’s football program. Along with the monetary award, Westwood High School will receive an automatic bid to compete in the 2023 New York Jets 11-ON Tournament.
Coach Hard will be invited to attend the New York Jets vs. Detroit Lions game on Sunday, December 18th where he will be honored on-field at MetLife Stadium. Finally, Westwood High School will receive tickets for Coach Hard’s players to support his recognition.
In its 27th year, the Jets High School Coach of the Week Game Changer presented by Visa award is given to a coach in the Tri-state area who serves the best interests of the game through the teaching of sound football fundamentals, the motivation of young players to achieve and the promotion of youth football by way of dedication to their community, their school and their student-athletes.
Coach Hard grew up in Little Ferry, NJ and attended Ridgefield Park High School. As a Scarlet, he played offensive and defensive tackle, then continued his playing career as an offensive guard at William Paterson University. Hard has a combined 43 years of coaching experience including 22 as a head coach. On September 16th, Coach Hard led his team to 34-7 victory over rival River Dell to notch his 100th career win. In 2015, Hard was named Westwood’s 15th head coach after previously serving as a Cardinal’s assistant. He also spent two years at Weehawken and 12 at Wallington. As an assistant, Hard had stints at Paramus Catholic, Bergen Tech, and Wayne Valley. Westwood has not beat River Dell since 2014. This latest win ties their series, known as Bird Bowl, at 21 wins each.
The above story is from the New York Jets
2022 New York Jets COTW winners
Week 3 – Mike Scarpelli, Clarkstown South HS
Week 2 – Philip McGuane, Middlesex HS
Week 1 – Tarig Holman, St. Thomas Aquinas HS
