Coach Marty Spielman
Coach Spielman started his teaching & coaching career immediately upon graduating from New York City's College in 1957. His first stop was LaSalle Junior High School at which he coached the school's basketball and softball teams. In 1961, Coach Spielman moved onto Brooklyn's Boys High School becoming the school's coach for the baseball, golf and football teams. His 1964 football team ended the season undefeated as the Public School Athletic League's city champions and Coach Spielman was honored as NYC PSAL Coach of the Year.
In 1966, Coach Spielman arrived at Tottenville High School without a coaching position not teams to coach as the baseball and gold teams were alreadys taffed and the school did not have a football team. This changed in1968 when Coach Spielman's vision for a football program at Tottenville High School gained tractopmn with the community. His adminstrative skills nbavigating through the Board of Education and organizing the community to pariticpate in fundraiging for the foootball program led to success as the first team suited up and played its first game on October 4, 1969. The second year of the program included the addition of a JV football team soon to be followed by a freshman team a few years later.
Coach Spielman introduced and incorporated many innovations which are now standard and routine for the football program. These included the team's attendance at summer football camp, night games with portable generators & light towers, and travelling out of town for better competition than the PSAL was able to provide.
During his tenure as Tottenville High School's football coach, Coach Spielman's 1978 was the Staten Island PSAL champion and his 1980 team appeared in the city wide PSAL championship after it was picked to finish last in its Division.
His assessment and selection of coaching talent brought future Staten Island high school football head coaches AL Paturzo, John Drennan, Ralph Mustillo and Charles CIccarelli to Tottenville High School. This coaching legacy continues on with Tottenville High School football program alumni currently performing as head coaches at New Dorp High School, McKee/Staten Island Tech High School and St. Joseph's By the Sea High School as well as Tottenville High School.
In addition to his legacy as the Founder of the Tottenville High School football program, Coach Spielman's legacy as an educator and teacher to his student athletes in providing college and career guidance cannot be overlooked or underestimated. During Coach Spielman's tenure as football coach, he owned and operated a successfu day cmp at which many of its staff were Tottenville football players. His knowledge of the college recruiting process and contacts within the college coaching fraternity assisted and guided scores of his players throughout his years as their coach.
Following his coaching career at at Tottenville, Coach Spielman coached at Jersey City State College, continued his work as a successful businessman and has devoted much of his time to the Jackson, NJ Board of Education and the Plainsboro, NJ Community Parks Committee as well as administering to his passion for golf.