Holy Trinity hires Joe Giardina as new coach to revive football program

Holy Trinity has hired Joe Giardina as its head football coach as the school prepares to bring back the program it was forced to suspend in July.

The school announced the hire on Instagram, and Giardina shared the news on his personal Instagram and X accounts.

"Holy Trinity is blessed to welcome coach Giardina as our new head football coach! Coach Giardina has already hit the ground running — joining our community at homecoming on Oct. 24, where he was warmly welcomed by our students, parents, and alumni," assistant principal for community outreach Matthew Scannapieco said in a statement to Newsday.

"A number of prospective players have been training in our newly updated Titan Athletic Training Center throughout the fall to stay in shape, and coach Giardina has stopped by the facility several times to meet with them since being hired. There is a student interest meeting planned next week on Nov. 9 so coach Giardina can meet with the growing number of students looking to get involved with Titan football.

"As Holy Trinity continues to expand on its traditions of academic excellence, faith formation, and elite athletics, the future of Titan football is in exceptionally good hands. We look forward to an exciting new chapter under coach Giardina’s leadership."

The Titans suspended their football program in July and did not field a team this fall. In a July letter to parents, principal Brian Colomban said the school intended to field a junior varsity team in the fall of 2027 and a varsity team in 2028. The letter also said the decision came after the newly hired coach, Cain Mack, informed the school he was leaving the job.

“My mission is simple: Bring Holy Trinity Football back, restore the pride and tradition of this program, and build something that our entire community can be proud of for years to come,” Giardina wrote in a letter he posted on Instagram.

Giardina, 32, was the head football coach at Long Island City in Queens from 2021 through 2024. He led the Bulldogs to the PSAL Conference 1A playoffs in 2023. They moved up to Conference 2A and returned to the playoffs in 2024. He stepped away from coaching in 2025 after joining the FDNY.

During his time at Long Island City, Giardina helped develop a rivalry with defending Conference 2A champion Bryant, elevating high school football in Queens.

“He wanted to make that local rivalry bigger than what it already was,” Bryant coach Vincenzo Donato said. “He really cares about the kids and he was invested in the program . . . He’s just a great guy and the perfect guy for the job.”

Giardina was an assistant coach on the East Meadow varsity football staff in 2019. He graduated from Wantagh, where he played football and lacrosse. He then starred for the men’s lacrosse team at Adelphi and earned All-American honors in 2016.

Gregg Sarra contributed to this story.