Dave Ettinger and the Garden City Trojans: Preparation and Dominance
NEW YORK CITY (BVM) — Garden City head coach Dave Ettinger has been involved in competitive football for over thirty years. Graduating from Long Island’s Commack High School in 1993, he attended Hofstra University, becoming a four-year starting kicker. Joining Hofstra when it just made its transition to Division I athletics, he played for successful Hofstra teams, making the NCAA I-AA tournament twice. At Hofstra, whose football team is now defunct, Ettinger was a two-time All-American and his 326 points was the most in school history.
Ettinger’s success pushed him to the 1998 Hula Bowl, an all-star event where the best collegiate football players compete. Playing for the North, Ettinger missed the game-tying extra point that would have knotted the contest at 20. Ettinger’s final Hofstra game also ended with disappointment. Facing Delaware in the first round of the NCAA I-AA tournament, Ettinger “had a punt blocked for a touchdown, had a field goal blocked, missed two other field-goal attempts, and mishandled a high snap on a punt for a 22-yard loss that set up the Blue Hens’ first touchdown.”
Although a talented placekicker, Ettinger quickly returned to his Long Island roots, coaching the Garden City middle school team from 1999-2005. He was then elevated to the high school team, learning from legendary coach Tom Flatley as an assistant until 2015, where he took Flatley’s program to another level.
Ettinger’s record at Garden City High School is 61-3. He went 9-1 in his first season, losing in the semifinals of the Nassau county division playoffs. Ettinger then reeled off three consecutive Nassau division championships, followed by the big prize, three straight Long Island Class II Championships. He broke records in the process. From 2016-2019, Garden City won forty-two consecutive games, tying Floyd for the longest winning streak in the Long Island division. Additionally, under Ettinger, Garden City managed to increase its Long Island Class II championships to eight, more than any other rival. For his success, Ettinger won Coach of the Year three times.
His coaching was not only recognized regionally but also praised by the New York Giants, who awarded him the “Lou Rettino High School Football Coach of the Week” in Sept. 2015. This came after the Trojans demolished the Carey High School Seahawks 35-7, ending their twenty-five game unbeaten run. According to the New York Giants website, the award, “is based on the coach’s continuing commitment towards promoting youth football, developing motivated student-athletes and his overall community involvement.” Participating in the Garden City program for over two decades, Ettinger attests to that. Not only has he prepared game plans and taught defensive concepts, but Ettinger is also Garden City’s physical education teacher for grades eleven and twelve. His community outreach also extends to Garden City’s youth program, as Ettinger and his coaches mentor young players during practices and games. Since Ettinger maintains a great relationship with Garden City’s feeder team, he counts on the incoming players to step in. With a significant roster each year, it speaks volumes about the youth affiliation and Ettinger’s coaching that he gets newcomers quickly up to speed.
Examining Garden City’s dominance under Ettinger, the defense has led the way. In his first title-winning campaign, Garden City allowed 7.25 points a game. In 2017, Ettinger’s defense clamped down, allowing 5.7 points per contest. During that season, only two opponents reached double digits. In 2018, Ettinger’s opponents averaged just over six points a game. As stated by Long Island sports reporter Gregg Sarra, the 2016-2018 run “fully supports the cliché that, ‘defense wins championships’ as the Trojans allowed one touchdown or fewer in 26 of those victories.” Speaking about his defense to Sarra, Ettinger emphasized the Trojans’ ability to force turnovers, “creat[ing] scoring opportunities,” and to “control field position, which forces opponents into longer drives.” An April game against South Side embodies his philosophy. Starting with the ball, South Side’s first drive took over ten minutes before stalling near the red zone. Four plays later, beginning at their own twenty-five-yard line, Garden City found the end zone. South Side never recovered, as Garden City cruised to victory 34-0.
Along with Ettinger’s elite defensive strategy, his personality and preparation also shine through the Trojans. As Gregg Sarra indicated on the Newsday High School Sports podcast, instead of running up the score, Ettinger “can put guys in the game and give them playing time and get them up to speed.” As a result, the Trojans are “prepared not 1-22, the starters, but 1-40.” With the entire roster able to contribute, as Long Island football expert Andy Slawson said, “Garden City is always, always mentally prepared, and that starts with the coaches… They don’t fumble. They don’t make stupid critical penalties.” In the rare occurrence that the opposition wins, the reactions of Ettinger and his players, according to Sarra, are “very stoic,” as they do not look for excuses or blame officials. Instead, Ettinger’s crew will prepare for the next game and most likely dominate.
With the Trojans going 6-0 and capturing a Nassau conference championship in the 2021 coronavirus shortened season, time will tell if Ettinger’s program can create another winning streak. Yet, with his humility, preparation and success, Ettinger should spearhead Garden City to more titles this decade.
