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By Joseph Staszewski
Brooklyn Daily
Xaverian High School has fired its varsity football coach after a 2–7 season and replaced him with a former Clippers assistant.
Joe DeSiena, an alum of the school who twice led the X-Men to the Catholic High School Football League Class AAA semifinals, said he was let go because he failed to meet a requirement to earn a master degree in Social Studies, which he had taught at the school until this year.
Without the masters, he was not allowed to teach at the school — something that he said adversely affected his ability to coach.
“I really didn’t feel I was in a position to make the impact that I have been making the last couple of years,” DeSiena said, who claimed he is now in graduate school seeking the degree.
Xaverian officials announced on Thursday that Mike Jioia, who was the team’s offensive coordinator in 2005 and 2006, is the new coach.
Jioia, who holds a masters in education, has coached at Tottenville High School, William Paterson University, and the Globe Institute of Technology. He and also manages the New York Police Department semi-pro team. The former teacher’s assistant at the school was promoted to a full-time teaching position upon being named coach.
“I’ve coached 18-, 19- and 20-year olds,” said Jioia, a retired police officer. “Now it’s giving me a chance to go back and work with 14- and 15-year-olds and teach them what I’ve learned.”
Junior offensive lineman Dean Oswald said he is disappointed DeSiena is leaving.
“I think we are going to miss him as a program,” Oswald said. “He brought in talented players that improved our team substantially.”
Reach reporter Joseph Staszewski at jstaszewski@cnglocal.com. Follow him on twitter @cng_staszewski.