About Bronxville Football

Our mission in Bronxville Football is to create an environment where young student-athletes develop into productive, high-character citizens in our society. While scoreboard success is a goal, our primary responsibility as coaches is to maximize the personal potential of every player and teach values that set a path of excellence in everything they do.

Effort Equals Everything
This standard guides every aspect of our mission:

1. Developing Character & Building Confidence
The foundation of growth is confidence. We teach our players that confidence comes from taking risks, making mistakes, and actively learning from them. We hold ourselves to high standards as mentors—correcting individually, praising in groups, and eliminating negativity from our program.

2. Caring for the Whole Athlete
We firmly believe that "a kid doesn't care how much you know until they know how much you care." If a player is not grasping a concept, it is our duty to figure out how they learn best and coach them accordingly. We view parents as crucial partners in this journey to ensure every young man feels supported and understood.

3. Playing with Toughness, Aggression, and Intelligence
On the field, football is an aggressive, collision-based game. We teach our players to be the aggressors by executing with toughness, intelligence, and relentless effort. When players master their skills and trust their preparation, true confidence is earned—and confidence breeds success both on the field and in life.

Go Broncos!

The Bronxville High School Broncos football program (NYSPHSAA Section 1) has established itself as one of Westchester County's premier small-school football powerhouses, defined by historic eras, state championships, and a rich tradition of collegiate athletes.

## Early Foundations & The 1947 "Iron Defense"

* **Dan Matthaei Era (1927–1955):** The DNA of Bronxville football took shape under physical education teacher and head coach Dan Matthaei. Ahead of his time, Matthaei introduced early iterations of the T-formation before it gained widespread popularity in high school athletics, dividing the field into tactical zones and designing innovative playbooks.
* **The Undefeated 1947 "Iron Defense":** Anchored by a dominant offensive and defensive line, the 1947 Broncos team finished undefeated while allowing just 12 total points across the entire season (outscoring opponents 106–12). The legendary unit held opponents to under two points per game, capping the year with a victory over traditional rival Scarsdale.

## State Championship Seasons

* **2010 (Class C — 13-0 Record):** Head Coach Jeff Napolitano guided Bronxville to its first-ever NYS Class C State Championship with a perfect 13-0 record, capping off a dominant multi-year run for the program.
* **2025 (Class C — 12-0 Record):** Head Coach Patsy Manganelli led Bronxville to an undefeated 12-0 campaign, securing the program's second state title with a 42-25 victory over Section 4 power Chenango Forks. Senior running back Brian Formato was named NYS Class C State Player of the Year after setting a Section 1 single-season record with 42 touchdowns and rushing for over 2,000 yards.

## Head Coaching Eras

| Head Coach | Tenure | Key Accomplishments & Legacy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Patsy Manganelli** | 2017–Present | 2025 NYS Class C State Champions (12-0); 2025 NYS Coach of the Year; established the program's modern "EEE" (*Effort Equals Everything*) identity. |
| **Jeff Napolitano** | 2006–2016 | 2010 NYS Class C State Champions (13-0); multiple Section 1 titles; state finals and semifinals runs (11-1 in 2009, 8-1 in 2011). |
| **Bill Magner** | Mid-2000s | Set the foundation for the modern era with consistent winning campaigns, including a 7-2 season in 2005–06. |
| **Vito Priore** | 1974–1986 | Served as head coach, athletic director, and PE teacher; teamed with assistant Phil Kuczma to establish the foundational motto *Pride, Sacrifice, and Desire*; inducted into the Bronxville Athletic Hall of Fame (2006). |
| **Dan Matthaei** | 1927–1955 | Program founder; early pioneer of the T-formation; coached the undefeated 1947 "Iron Defense" team. |

## Sectional History & Program Culture

* **Section 1 Titles:** Bronxville holds 8 total Section 1 Championships, competing primarily between the Class C and Class B divisions.
* **Local Rivalries:** Features high-stakes Westchester matchups against traditional Section 1 Class C/D rivals like Tuckahoe, Dobbs Ferry, Valhalla, and Haldane.
* **Culture & System:** Built around multi-sport athlete development, in-season strength training, and alignment between the Bronxville youth football system and varsity staff.

Notable Alumni

Roger Goodell (Class of 1977):** NFL Commissioner. A three-sport star at Bronxville, Goodell captained the Broncos football, basketball, and baseball teams as a senior and was named the school's Athlete of the Year.
Henry Donohue (Class of 2021):** Running back and linebacker for Bronxville who went on to play for the University of Michigan, earning a ring as a member of Michigan's 2023 CFP National Championship team.
Kieran Borcich (Class of 2011):** Dominant 6'5" defensive lineman on the 2010 undefeated NYS Class C state title team who earned a Division I FBS scholarship to play at Boston College.
The Conway Brothers (Jackson, Christian, Ted): Key offensive and multi-sport anchors across multiple seasons—Jackson and Christian drove the ground game on the 2010 state title squad, with Jackson playing Division I football at Duke and Columbia
Jeff White (Class of 1969): NFL kicker/punter who played for the New England Patriots in 1973.
Brian Formato (Class of 2026): 2025 NYS Class C Player of the Year and state champion, setting the Section 1 single-season record with 42 touchdowns and over 2,000 rushing yards.

Collegiate Pipeline

Bronxville football routinely feeds multi-sport student-athletes to elite academic and athletic programs across the Ivy League, NESCAC, and Patriot League. Program alumni have gone on to compete for **Princeton**, **Georgetown**, **Williams**, **Bowdoin**, **Penn**, **Middlebury**, **Amherst**, and **Wesleyan**.

Bronxville Football Mission Statement

Dear Bronxville Football Players, Families, and Community,

First and foremost, our mission in Bronxville Football is to create an environment where young student-athletes develop into productive, high-character citizens in our society. While scoreboard success is a goal, our primary responsibility as coaches is to maximize the personal potential of every player and teach values that set a path of excellence in everything they do.

Effort Equals Everything

This standard guides every aspect of our mission:
1. Developing Character & Building Confidence

The foundation of growth is confidence. We teach our players that confidence comes from taking risks, making mistakes, and actively learning from them. We hold ourselves to high standards as mentors—correcting individually, praising in groups, and eliminating negativity from our program.

2. Caring for the Whole Athlete

We firmly believe that *"a kid doesn't care how much you know until they know how much you care."* If a player is not grasping a concept, it is our duty to figure out how they learn best and coach them accordingly. We view parents as crucial partners in this journey to ensure every young man feels supported and understood.

3. Playing with Toughness, Aggression, and Intelligence

On the field, football is an aggressive, collision-based game. We teach our players to be the aggressors by executing with toughness, intelligence, and relentless effort. When players master their skills and trust their preparation, true confidence is earned—and confidence breeds success both on the field and in life.

Thank you for your trust and partnership as we pursue excellence together.

**Go Broncos!**

Bronxville Football