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One of Long Island’s most recognizable high school football programs has been sacked.
Holy Trinity High School has suspended its varsity football program for the 2026 and 2027 seasons, abruptly halting a program that has been among the best in the Catholic High School Football League for decades.
According to a letter sent to parents by Principal Brian Colomban, the decision comes just months after the school hired head coach Cain Mack, who then resigned shortly after. According to the letter, Holy Trinity plans to rebuild the program by bringing back junior varsity football next season, with varsity football not expected to return until 2028.
For former long-time Holy Trinity Athletic Director Chris Hardardt, the news was especially difficult to hear.
“It’s very sad,” said Hardardt, who is now an assistant principal and associate athletic director at St. Francis Prep in Fresh Meadows, Queens.
Hardardt knows better than most what Holy Trinity football has meant to the school and the surrounding community. During his years leading athletics at Holy Trinity, the Titans were one of the better-known programs in the CHSFL, producing competitive teams and sending players on to college football.
The list includes quarterback Chris Laviano and wide receiver Dylan Braithwaite who went to Rutgers, and offensive lineman Ryan Alexander who played at Syracuse.
In January of 2023, Georgia football coach Kirby Smart flew by helicopter to Holy Trinity during a recruiting visit, landed on the football field, and offered junior Josiah Brown a scholarship. He ended up transferring back to his hometown of Malverne for his senior year, then ultimately chose Penn State.
And in 2009, Titans running back Anthony Bruntetti won the Thorp Award — given annually to the best player in all of Nassau County — after rushing for more than 2,400 yards and scoring 28 touchdowns. He went on to play at C.W. Post.
As expected, the player exodus has already begun. Offensive lineman Jayden Branch left Holy Trinity in December to finish out the year in public school. He’s now enrolled at St. Anthony’s for the fall, and is expected to be a big part of the Friars football team
“It’s an unfortunate situation for Trinity,” St. Anthony’s football coach and AD Joe Minnucci told Greater Long Island. “But we are happy to be adding a player like Jayden to our team starting this season.”
Wide receiver and linebacker Joseph Henn is reportedly returning to his hometown of Long Beach.
GLI reached out to school officials for confirmation but was told they can’t comment on personnel matters.
The shutdown is already creating challenges across the league.
Holy Trinity’s opponents will not have their schedules adjusted; they’ll just play one less game this season.
“We’re not revamping the schedule. If a school was scheduled to play Holy Trinity, they will receive a bye. Our schedule is done,” said Hardardt, who also serves as president of the CHSFL. “Teams can certainly try to find an opponent to fill their schedule, but finding an available opponent will be difficult at this late juncture.”
Stay with Greater Long Island for more on the situation as it develops.
Top: Uniondale, NY – September 29, 2013: Holy Trinity High School running back No. 22 Shaka Shomari crash lands after picking up yards on the ground during the second quarter of a CHSFL varsity football game vs. Kellenberg at Mitchel Athletic Complex. Holy Trinity won by a score of 41-19. (Photo by James Escher)
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