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The New York Dragons have found their leader for the 2025 season.
The Dragons, set to return to the field this summer as part of the Entertainment Football Association (ENTFLA), have named Gerald Filardi as their head coach and director of football operations, GLI has learned.
“I am thrilled and deeply honored to accept the position of Head Coach and Director of Football Operations of the New York Dragons,” said Filardi. “This organization has a proud history and a passionate fan base that deserves a team that plays with heart, discipline and innovation.”
Filardi, a name synonymous with football on Long Island, has been the varsity head coach at Half Hollow Hills West High School in Dix Hills since 2019. This past season, he led the Colts to a 9-2 overall record in Suffolk County Division III, including a 7-1 mark in the regular season.
“The New York Dragons are thrilled to welcome Gerald as the man who will lead us onto the field for our inaugural ENTFLA season,” said Dragons general manager, Peter Schwartz. “He checked all the boxes for us in our search for a Head Coach. Gerald is a proven leader and winner who is driven to grow football on Long Island at all levels. He shares our vision of building a championship roster loaded with Long Island and area talent. We welcome the entire Filardi family into our organization including Gerald’s wife Kim and his sons Gerald Jr., Jack and Joseph.”
Filardi played linebacker at Penn State, where he participated in four bowl games, including the Fiesta Bowl and the 1994 Rose Bowl, which capped off a 12-0 season and a national championship. After college, he went on to play professionally for the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arena Football League’s Albany Firebirds.
His impact on Long Island football extends beyond his playing and coaching career. In 2012, he founded the Long Island Spartans, the region’s first travel football team, followed by Long Island Elite Football in 2013, the area’s first youth travel football program.
Filardi now sets his sights on building a winning team for the Dragons, emphasizing local talent.
“My vision is to have a team comprised of Long Island and New York players to build a dynamic, high-scoring offense that electrifies the arena while developing a defense that strikes with precision and power,” he said.
Under Filardi’s leadership, the team will take shape in the coming weeks. The Dragons will hold open tryouts, with training camp beginning in May. The season kicks off on Saturday, June 7, when the team travels to play the Danbury Diesel. The home opener is set for Saturday, June 14, at 6:05 p.m. at Nassau Coliseum.
Filardi’s hiring adds to the excitement surrounding the return of the Dragons, who are reviving the legacy of the original team that played at the Coliseum from 2001 to 2008. Schwartz previously stated that his goal was for the team to complete the mission of the original franchise and “hang a championship banner from the rafters of the Coliseum.”
“Under my leadership, we will breathe fire into this team,” said Filardi. “I promise to pour everything I have into making this a championship contender and a source of pride for Long Island and New York.”
