6 Holy Trinity football players leave school, planned to do so before program was suspended Wednesday

Even before Holy Trinity High School’s announcement on Wednesday that it was suspending its football program, six of the team’s top players were not planning to return to the school.

Holy Trinity, located in Hicksville, sent a letter to parents on Wednesday that said coach Cain Mack’s decision to leave the school earlier this month prompted the school to suspend the football program. Mack was hired in February to replace Gino Tassone, who led the program for two years before departing in December.

Marcus Abellard, Jayden Branch, Joseph Henn, Darnell Rink, Damarien Singh and Lance Swift will not be back at Holy Trinity.

In a letter to Holy Trinity parents, alumni, students, coaches and supporters on Thursday, athletic director Matthew Sloan wrote that the decision came only after “exploring every possible option.”

“The reality is that we simply did not have enough student-athletes committed to safely field a varsity football team. Football requires not only enough players, but enough experienced players to practice and compete safely throughout an entire season. While this decision is incredibly painful, the safety of our students had to remain our highest priority.”

Sloan added: “I also believe it is important to acknowledge the coaching change that was made this past December. That decision was not made lightly either. It came after extensive reflection and many difficult conversations regarding the direction of our football program. As Athletic Director, I have a responsibility not only to build successful athletic teams, but to ensure every program reflects the mission, values, and standards of Holy Trinity High School. There were significant internal concerns regarding the culture surrounding our football program and conduct within our school that led us to believe a change in leadership was necessary. Those decisions were difficult, but they were made because we believed they were in the best long-term interest of our students and our institution.”

“I’m deeply offended by that comment,” Tassone said. “My kids were never in trouble in school. They never had a problem behavior-wise or anything. He was on the job for a month and a half before he told me they were going in a new direction. That’s not enough time to get a feel for what the culture is around the building.

“You went from having 53 kids. Twelve seniors graduated, so that left 41. Where are those 41 kids? You didn’t do your job retaining any of them. That’s not on me.

“Whoever’s getting them is getting a great bunch of kids. They’re serious football players who are going to help every program they go to. I’m trying to get all these kids settled before I get myself settled.”

Swift, a 6-3, 295-pound offensive lineman, was a member of the varsity team as a freshman but now will attend Iona Prep in New Rochelle. He said Tassone’s departure was a big reason for his decision to leave.

“Coach Gino was a really good coach to me,” Swift said. “The coaches taught me more than football, they taught me how to be a man. I really loved it there. It was my first football family. But now it’s on to Iona. I’m very excited. It felt like a calling since my mom got a job in the area. The coaches are great.”

Henn is expected to return to his hometown district, Long Beach. Coach Scott Martin said he expects Henn to be a major addition to the team. Long Beach reached the Nassau II championship game last season before falling to Garden City.

Henn was named the CHSFL AA-II Defensive Player of the Year last season as a sophomore. He led the team with 45 tackles and recorded four interceptions at linebacker. He also was the team’s leading receiver, finishing with 23 receptions for 472 yards and two touchdowns. Henn also was a key member of Holy Trinity’s lacrosse team.

Rink was the team’s second-leading receiver behind Henn. He spent the last three years as a key receiver and defensive back. Rink, also a track standout, now will attend Eagle Academy III (Queens) in the PSAL. He is set to return to Long Island on Sept. 4 against St. John the Baptist.

“Holy Trinity football meant a lot to me,” Rink said. “I played there for the last three years. There were some bumps in the road, but it was a great time. It was fun while it lasted, and I’m grateful for the experience. Now I’m transferring to a great school with a history of winning and getting guys into great colleges, and playing with some guys I grew up with, so I’m excited.”

Branch formed a duo up front with Swift that would have impacted the entire Catholic league for the next three years. But with the change, the 6-3, 240-pound Branch transferred to St. Anthony’s.

“It’s a tough situation for Holy Trinity to have to deal with,” St. Anthony’s coach Joe Minucci said. “I’m sure they did the best they could to navigate the situation they were in. It’s never a good thing for the Catholic High School Football League to lose a team. We’re happy to have Jayden. He’s a talented football player, and we’re happy he found a home.”

Singh was a 2025 CHSFL All-League selection. He rushed 106 times for 551 yards last season, second on the team, and finished second on the team with 33 tackles. Singh will play for St. Francis Prep in Queens next season.

Abellard, the Titans’ explosive kick returner, also will play for a different school next season. He has his eyes on one school in particular, but his decision has not been made public.

The memories from last season are still there. Holy Trinity improved from 1-10 in 2024 to 7-4 in 2025. The Titans lost to Xaverian in the AA-II semifinals. If they had won, they would have faced a Holy Cross team they defeated, 32-6, during the regular season.

“We were basically one play away from going to a championship,” Abellard said, “so it’s really unfortunate. We turned it around and were on track to win a title this year, and now we’re all playing for different schools.”