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Yorktown's Athletic Director Earns Don DeMatteo Service Award

YORKTOWN, N.Y. -- Being more than just a "coach," is what earned Yorktown High School’s Athletic Director Fio Nardone the Don DeMatteo Service Award by the Section One Football Coaches Association.

Yorktown High School’s Athletic Director Fio Nardone has received the the Don DeMatteo Service Award.

Yorktown High School’s Athletic Director Fio Nardone has received the the Don DeMatteo Service Award.

Photo Credit: Contributed

Nardone recently accepted the award in Pearl River during the annual regional football banquet for teams, players, and coaches.

The award is named for Donald DeMatteo, who was a beloved Varsity football coach and physical education teacher at Gorton High School in Yonkers for 23 years until his death in 1999.

Yorktown varsity football coach Michael Rescigno submitted the application nominating Nardone.

“There is no one more deserving of this honor than Fio Nardone," said Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Ralph Napolitano. "Fio exemplifies all of the qualities that the late Donald DeMatteo stood for: Commitment, leadership, passion, empathy, humility, and integrity. Fio leads by example, models what he expects and supports our coaches, athletes, and programs at all times.”

Nardone has been the athletic director at Yorktown Central School District for the past 16 years. During his tenure at Yorktown, he oversaw the construction of new turf and softball fields and the remodeling and renovating of the Fitness Centers at both the high school and middle school buildings. He played an integral part in the renovation of the swimming pool, as well as the complete remodeling of the locker rooms in both the high school and middle school. Most recently, Nardone has been able to attain a $10,000 grant to fund a trophy showcase which will be ready for display in the spring.

“Fio has been a long-time advocate for Section 1 athletics and has put his efforts into the betterment of the game of football from top to bottom. I have witnessed Fio make incredible contributions both locally and section wide,” Rescigno said. “Fio has been involved in the leadership of Section One Athletics in a capacity that cannot be defined by any one title. He has always donated his time beyond Yorktown because he believes that interscholastic sports are the cornerstone of education.”

Nardone is credited with overseeing and directing the enhancement of the Yorktown athletic facilities and has coordinated the donation of these sites for many Section 1 events.

And at Yorktown schools, he is also known for encouraging student-athletes to make contributions that help their community and to stay focused on their academic studies.

“I am honored and humbled to be given this award which comes from the football association made up of my colleagues,” said Nardone. “But it is really about the students and how sports can enhance their educational experience.”

In 2015, he was named the Section 1 Athletic Director of the Year, by the New York State Athletic Administrators Association.

In addition to being Director of Athletics and Physical Education at Yorktown Central School District, Nardone is a longtime member of the Section One Baseball Umpires Association and former president of Westchester County Basketball Association. As well, he is a member of the Section One Basketball Committee, Section 1 Baseball Committee, the Section One Ski Committee, and more.

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