MUSTANG FOUNDERS
BILL BROWN
Founded the Mustangs in 1958. Bill was the athletic director for the 4M Club, Commissioner fro the Mustangs, and then President. He has also coached the Police Boys Basketball Club, and managed the International Little League. As a head coach for the Mustangs, he racked up an impressive record of 116 wins, 5 losses and 1 tie, not to mention winning the Long Island Midget Football league Championships, as well as assisting Mike Kramer in winning the Pop Warner New York State Championship in 1965. Recently attended our 2002 Opening Ceremonies.
MUSTANG COACHES
JOHN MICHEL
Coached travel teams in the early to mid-sixties. Went three years without losing a game at one point during that period. Later served as Commissioner.
FRANK PETRUCCELLI
Coached in the organization for over 30 years. Served on the board of directors as President and
Vice President. Won championships with the 9 year olds, 10 year olds, 11 year olds and the 13 year olds. With the senior travel team he won 4 Long Island Championships and took his team to
the championship game 8 years in a row.
THOMAS HESSION
Started with the Mustangs in 1958 and coached for many years.
ALBERT DERUDDER
JOE GILLESPIE
Head coach of 17 championship teams with the 11 year olds and Senior teams. Currently serving as Mustang Commissioner.
JOHN GILLESPIE
Assistant to brother Joe on 17 championship teams.
JACK CAMPBELL
Defensive coordinator for the Gillespie staff for 17 championship teams. Currently working with Farmingdale High School as an Assistant Football Coach.
BILL RACENELLO
Coached in the program for many years. Passed away in 1994.
JOHN DELEMO
Coached in 1958 and coached for many years.
DAN SHEEHAN
ALEX FERRARI
Alex Ferrari was a member for 21 years. He served on the Board of Trustees for 12 years. He was the Vice President in 1980 and 1981, President in 1982, 1983, 1984 and Commissioner in 1985 and 1986. He coached the 1969 Jets Division Champs. 1974-1975 Pee Wee Champs. Senior travel champs 1977,1978,1982,1983 and part of the coaching staff on the New Orleans little sugar bowl pop warner national champs
JOSEPH MORIARTY
Joe Moriarty was a Mustang Coach for 21 years . He served as a Trustee in1975,1976,1977 then was elected Commissioner from 1977 through 1982. He Coached teams from 1969 to 1972 Winning the 10 year old Superbowl in 1972. He was the Offensive co-ordinator for the Pee Wee CHAMPS in 1976, 1977, 1978,1980, 1981 1982, 1983.
He was also the Offensive co-ordinator for the the Senior Pop Warner National Champs in the Little Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, 1972.
THOMAS CIRROCO
Thomas Cirocco was born and raised in Richmond Hill, Queens. A resident of the Massapequas for the past 20 years, he is the owner of Cirocco & Ozzimo, Inc., a union masonry and reinforced concrete firm. With his experience and entrepreneurial spirit, he has taken Cirocco & Ozzimo to a multi-million dollar company within the last decade. He contributes both his time and energy to many charitable organizations, such as the Girl and Boy Scouts of America, the American Cancer Society and the Massapequa Mustangs.
MICKEY HARLEY
Mickey Harley was born and raised in Massapequa Park and started playing Mustangs football at an early age of 8. He played Mustangs until he was 14 yrs old. While attending Massapequa High School, he was a member of the Junior Varsity and Varsity lacrosse teams. After graduating MHS, he went on to Army Prep school and was later accepted to Yale University, where he played lacrosse, while taking them to the final four. He graduated from Yale with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering and a Masters Degree in Public and Private Management.
RON STEHN
Ron and Renny have teamed to be recognized as one of the most successful travel staff s in the history of Massapequa Mustangs. In their 24 years of coaching together they have amassed an incredible record of 197 wins with only 15 losses. This has lead to winning 12 Championships. Their success is attributed to a commitment to excellence. Players understand when playing for Coach Ron and Coach Renny they are expected to train hard and be prepared to sacrifice personally for the benefit of the team. Many of their players have moved on to be successful high school and college athletes who look back and know that much of their success was due to the discipline and training they received while playing for these outstanding coaches. Both Ron and Renny have served the Mustangs as long time Board Members ensuring the traditions established by our Founders are maintained. It is an honor and pleasure to induct Ron and Renny into the Mustang Hall of Fame.
RENNY CADOLINO
Ron and Renny have teamed to be recognized as one of the most successful travel stafs in the history of Massapequa Mustangs. In their 24 years of coaching together they have amassed an incredible record of 197 wins with only 15 losses. This has lead to winning 12 Championships. Their success is attributed to a commitment to excellence. Players understand when playing for Coach Ron and Coach Renny they are expected to train hard and be prepared to sacrifice personally for the benefit of the team. Many of their players have moved on to be successful high school and college athletes who look back and know that much of their success was due to the discipline and training they received while playing for these outstanding coaches. Both Ron and Renny have served the Mustangs as long time Board Members ensuring the traditions established by our Founders are maintained. It is an honor and pleasure to induct Ron and Renny into the Mustang Hall of Fame.
LENNY GENOVA
Len has worked for the Town of Oyster Bay since 1992 and is currently the Deputy Supervisor, a position he has held since. Prior to joining the Town of Oyster Bay, Len worked for 2 years as a Labor Relations Attorney for Pan American World Airways, Inc. upon his graduation from St. John’s University School of Law. Len graduated from Columbia University in 1985 with a degree in English Literature and was a four year member of the football team. He was team captain as a senior and earned All-Ivy honors as both a junior (Honorable Mention) and senior (First Team). He also was selected to the Associated Press All-American team (Honorable Mention) following his senior campaign. Len coached at both the high school and college levels for 6 years and is currently the President of the Nassau, Suffolk and New York City Chapters of the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame, Inc., a national organization dedicated to promoting the game of amateur football and honoring those individuals that serve the game. During Len’s tenure as President, the Long Island chapters have awarded over $200,000 to high school students who have achieved athletic and academic success. In 2002 Len was recognized by the national organization with its Chapter Leadership Award. Len is also the Executive Director of Athletics and Academics Equal Success, Inc. and a former board member of the Long Island Sports Commission and the Frank McGuire Foundation. Len resides in Massapequa with his wife Stephanie and 2 sons, Jerome (16) and Steven (12).
THOMAS DEBONA
Tom DeBona (pictured 2nd from left) dedicated much of his adult life to coaching and the Massapequa Mustangs. Spending every fall from 1968 at Burns Park, Tom coached travel teams for 6 years before taking on the unenviable task of Commissioner of the Mustang Organization. Under his guidance and leadership, the Mustang organization became one of the most powerful and well known programs on Long Island and that pride and dominance carries to this day. His tough, no nonsense and honest approach was a benchmark for coaches and teams to follow and the Mustangs have never looked back. Tom passed away in 2008 but lives on in Mustang history for ever!
GARY BALDINGER
School/Work
1982-1986
*Wake Forest Graduate, BA history, minor-politics
*4 year Varsity Football Lettermen, 3-year starter-defensive line
*2 time ALL-ACC and Honorable Mention All-American, 1984-85
*Team Captain and MVP, 1985
*National Strength and Conditioning (NSCA) All American-1985
*Wake Forest Outstanding Athlete-1985
*Wake Forest Hall of Fame Inductee-2003
1986-89
*9th Round NFL Draft Pick and Defensive Lineman-Kansas City Chiefs
1990-92
*Defensive Lineman-Buffalo Bills Active Member of Super Bowl 25, 26, and 27 Teams
1993-95
*Director-Incentive Program/ Sports Marketing, Foot Locker-New York City
1995-present
*16 years experience in Medical Device Sales
Current Position, Senior Sales Rep. CryoLife, Inc.-Kennesaw, Georgia
1992-present
*Staff Asst.-Congressman Peter T. King, 3rd CD
Activities/Organizations
1993-present
*17 yrs experience/ over 700 appearances as a Motivational and Public speaker/Presenter
*St Rose CYO Vice President
*Active Board member of St Rose CYO, Massapequa Kiwanis Club,,and Massapequa Schools Hall of Fame
*Active Youth Coach for Massapequa Mustangs, Massapequa Baseball, St Rose Basketball, and Massapequa Soccer Club
*Executive Director/Founder of Baldinger/NFL Football Clinic(1994-present), which has raised over $100,000 to support various youth and sports programs
JOSEPH S. SALADINO
Joseph S. Saladino is the first player from the Massapequa Mustangs football program to be an elected official. Assemblyman Saladino is a lifelong resident of Massapequa, where he has been very active in the community. He is an honorary member of the Massapequa Fire Department and the Massapequa Chamber of Commerce. He has been a member of the Massapequa Kiwanis Club for more than 22 years, where he has served as President and he has been honored with the distinguished award of “Kiwanian of the Year”.
He was first elected as our New York State Assemblyman in 2004. He was recently named NYS Assembly Nassau County Republican Conference Leader and is also the Assembly’s Republican Conference Program Chairman.
He is a member of the Son’s of Italy – Columbus Lodge, a former Trustee of the Massapequa Historical Society and co-founder of the Massapequa Anti-Graffiti Involvement Committee. Assemblyman Saladino has volunteered to help area veterans through Massapequa Cares and has raised funds for the American Heart Association, the United Way, Long Island Blood Services and the Guide Dog Foundation, as well as being a long time supporter of the Massapequa Mustangs Football Program.
Assemblyman Saladino has invested much of his time supporting the youth in our community. For years, he has been a coach with the Town of Oyster Bay Youth Ice Hockey Clinic and is a member of the Town of Oyster Bay Youth Board as well as a sponsor executive for Boy Scouts Troop #5 and Cub Scout Pack #5.
Prior to the Assembly, he was the Director of Operations for the Town of Oyster Bay and formerly served as an executive assistant for the Town of Hempstead. Previously, he held a career in broadcast journalism, working as a news anchor and broadcaster for some of Long Island’s largest television and radio stations, including WNYG, WALK, WLIW and News 12. Assemblyman Saladino also worked with an engineering firm where he learned many aspects of civil construction and environmental engineering. He brings to the Legislature a desire to create green technologies with a strong will to protect the environment.
A nature enthusiast, Assemblyman Saladino is a lifelong bayman and fisherman and brings the knowledge to Albany to protect anglers, sportsmen and outdoor recreationalists.
He holds an undergraduate and master’s degree in broadcast journalism and has worked tirelessly in Albany to pass legislation protecting women and children from sex predators. He championed and passed the civil confinement legislation to keep predators behind bars. He has built a career on consistently fighting to keep taxes down, preserve the environment, protect children’s safety and improve the quality of education.
STEVE KROLIKOWSKI
Until Steve’s recent relocation to Portland, Maine he spent the last 17 years coaching and 11 of the 17 as a board member and President. Prior to that Steve spent over 10 years coaching baseball in the Massapequa area until his oldest son Andrew signed up to play football. During Steve’s Presidency the Mustang board approved the reduction of registration fees twice due to strong fundraising and expense controls. Fundraising was a real focus of Steve’s and he knew that if his board all worked as a team it would support the revenue growth needed to run the organization without constantly asking parents to pay more. Other accomplishments of note during Steve’s tenure as President was the new Mustang Travel uniforms that Steve worked with an artist to design, the installation of the new Gillespie field scoreboard, Mustang merchandise being sold via a newly designed website, and online registration. Overall monies via fundraising, concession, and merchandise sales all increased during Steve’s time as President. Besides Steve’s, commitment to the Mustangs Steve served as a board member of the American Cancer Society and Vice Chairman of the March of Dimes while being a Senior Banker on Long Island for 30 years. Steve’s been married 28 years to Ann and has three children, Andrew, Kaitlin, and Gregory.
KURT ROOCKE
Kurt Roocke has been a Massapequa resident for 53 years and has been involved with the Massapequa Mustangs Football Organization for 18 years. Sixteen of those years Kurt coached various travel teams and won 9 championship titles. During that time Kurt served the Massapequa Mustangs as board member for 16 years and 8 years as President. Kurt and his wife Janet successfully operated the Sugar Shack at Burns Parkor many years. Kurt also served the youth of Massapequa as a baseball coach with the Massapequa Coast League for 6 years. Kurt and Janetare the proud parents of two children Kristy and Kurt II.
TOM MELIA
Tom Melia served the Massapequa Mustangs Football organization as coach and board member with pride and integrity. Starting in 1990 coaching his son in Flag, he went on to coach the 10 year olds and later the 12 year olds with his staff Kurt Roocke, Paddy Devlin, Roy Ragusa and Mike Lore. “We worked together as a coaching staff and we made an impression on the youth in the program to make them not only disciplined football players but also fine young men in our community. A highlight of our coaching career was to see Darrel Young as the starting fullback of the Washington Redskins. Tom also served on the board of directors for ten years helping to produce the journal and assisting to make the Mustangs the top rated football program in the tri-state area. Tom is the father of five children. Four boys who played in the program and a daughter who was a cheerleader. Tom was also a New York City Firefighter for more than 20 years. His wife, Lucy, also served the Mustangs as a volunteer in the Sugar Shack. Tom went on to coach at the high school level as well as coming back to assist his friend, Pat Devlin, with the 9 year old travel until 2011. Tom also helped run the 2011 World Police and Fire Games hosted in N.Y.C.
JOHN VENDITTO
John Venditto took office on January 1, 1998, as the 59th Supervisor of the Town of Oyster Bay. He brings more than 2 decades of experience in public service to the Supervisor’s office, having served as Town Attorney from 1991 to December 1997 and as a Town Councilman from 1981 to 1991.
As the chief elected officer of the Town of Oyster Bay, Supervisor Venditto is widely respected as a hardworking, creative and dedicated lawmaker with a record of accomplishment. He has a unique blend of ability and experience that comes from serving the Town, both as an elected and appointed official. No problem is too small to warrant his full attention. He shows the same concern for securing new fencing for a ball field as he does when drafting complex legislation to safeguard the Town’s future. As a fiscal conservative, his budgets have maintained all the essential services and programs that help make Oyster Bay’s communities among the finest in the nation while earning an AA credit rating from Standard & Poor’s an A1 credit rating from Moody’s Investors Services.
A longtime Massapequan, Supervisor Venditto was educated in Massapequa Public Schools. He earned his B.A. with a major in political science at St. John’s University and his Juris Doctor at St. John’s University, School of Law.
Supervisor Venditto and his wife, Christine, a teacher, reside in North Massapequa and are the parents of three children, Michael, Nicholas and Joanna.
JOSEPH TRAINOR
“When my son Billy was 5 years old, he wanted to play football. That was in 1993 and I registered him to play in the flag football program.
The fellow at the sign-up asked me if I wanted to help out. I said sure. Little did I know that this would lead to an odyssey beyond my wildest dreams. I was assigned to help as an assistant coach, never having coached before. I was like a fish out of water, but soon learned the ropes.
The following year, I was seasoned enough to take my own team. I continued to coach for the next 16 seasons. It has been one of the best experiences of my life. Coaching allowed me to bond with my kids. It was a major part of our relationship. I felt this and would always encourage other dads, who were at their kid’s practice, to participate. They would stand on the sidelines and you could see it in their eyes that they wanted to help out. All one had to do was ask them. I would take a team, have no assistant coaches to start, and end up with a staff of eight.
I have tried to give back and help the Mustangs whenever possible. My firm proudly represents the Mustangs. We hired a lawyer who was a former player and coach, Eric Stehn and another Attorney, Joanne Hawthorne, who is a partner in the firm, and who has kids playing in the organization today.
It’s a pleasure to be a member of the Mustangs and I am truly humbled and honored by this award. The Mustangs have given me more then I could ever give back. They gave me the opportunity to watch my sons Mike and Billy grow up to be fine young men along with a million memories. I would not trade that for anything. Thank You.”
TOM O’CONNOR
Lieutenant Colonel Tom O’Connor played on the Massapequa Mustangs Pee Wee through Senior teams.
He attended Berner and Massapequa High Schools lettering in Football, Basketball, Lacrosse and graduated in 1989. Tom attended the United States Military Academy and played Division I Lacrosse. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1994 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Aviation branch.
Some of the highlights during his military career include: His service as the Operations and Executive Officers for 2-17th Cavalry, 101st Airborne Division while at Fort Campbell, KY. He deployed to Iraq September 2005 through September 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While in Iraq he focused on the development of the Iraqi security forces, improving the Iraqi government, and the economic development of Iraq by training an Iraqi Police Chief and city police station, training and partnering with an Iraqi Army Battalion, and mentoring an Iraqi city Mayor. He also resourced, synchronized, and executed combat operations in support of U.S. and Coalition Conventional and Special Operations Forces.
In September of 2006 he redeploy ed his unit, reset them, trained and then deployed them to Jalalabad, Afghanistan in December 2007 through June 2008 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. During this time period, he tasked, synchronized and resourced the tactical employment of 525 Soldiers, 42 Army Helicopters, a US Army Infantry Company, and three unmanned aircraft systems. During these deployments he led from the front in the air and on the ground by personally conducting over 250 combat patrols.
From June 2008 through January 2009, he served as the Operations Officer for Task Force Destiny, of the 101st Airborne Division and deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He tasked, synchronized, and resourced four multi-functional Aviation Task Forces, a Military Intelligence Battalion, an Aviation Support Battalion, and two companies of unmanned aircraft in support of combat operations across Afghanistan. He was responsible for the operational employment of 3,200 Soldiers, 142 Army Helicopters, 19 fixed wing aircraft, and 7 unmanned aircraft systems during missions in support of U.S. and Coalition Conventional and Special Operations Forces. He also personally led over 80 combat patrols.
From October 2010 through April 2013 LTC O’Connor served as the Commander of the 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment where he was responsible for the training, welfare and combat resiliency of 603 Soldiers and their families, the tactical employment of 52 Army Helicopters, 90 combat vehicles and equipment valued in excess of 900 million dollars. His Task Force deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom from January 2012 through January 2013 and was the most lethal force in Regional Command-South, achieving decisive results in support of Special Operations and Coalition Forces, as well as incredible success with the development of his partnered Afghan Force. His unit sustained the highest average monthly flight hours on the OH58D fleet during the entire Global War on Terror and was recognized as having the best Kiowa Warrior Maintenance unit in the Army during FY2012. Tom led from the front while personally conducting over 200 combat patrols.
He attended the United States Naval War College and earned his master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. LTC O’Connor was recently selected for the Senior Service College and is attending the National Defense University’s Eisenhower School in Washington D.C. earning a Master’s of Science in Strategic Resourcing.
LTC O’Connor’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Meritorious Service Medal (4 OLC), Air Medal with valor (3), Army Commendation Medal (2 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (2 OLC), Meritorious Unit Award (2), Combat Action Badge, Aviator Badge, Parachutes’ Badge, and the Air Assault Badge.
LTC O’Connor is married to the former Ms. Kathleen Fickett of El Paso Texas and they have five children. Trey (12), Riley Kate (11), Corey (8), Brody (5), and Reaghan (2).
STEVE CARAMELLI
Steve Caramelli began his coaching career in 1969 at Canarsie H.S. in Brooklyn as a linebacker coach. After 1 year he was promoted
to Defensive Coordinator and won the PSAL High School Division 1 City Championship in 1970.
Later that year Steve moved his family to Massapequa Park and in 1971 began coaching for the Massapequa Mustangs. During Steve’s tenure as a Mustangs coach, he brought 14 Championship trophies home for the Organization. Coach Caramelli can also boast about his career record that includes 153 wins, 6 losses, 3 ties. After hanging up his whistle, Steve served as President of the Mustangs for 4 years, Vice President for 2 years and Commissioner for 6 years.
Steve is very proud that his 4 children all went through the Program – sons Jerry and Steven and cheerleader daughters Denise and Maria. Steve returned to coaching in 1986 for St. John the Baptist H.S. Varsity Lacrosse. Immediately successful with that team, Steve was awarded Coach of the Year. Finally, in 1987 he coached the S.J.B. Varsity Football team and took them to the CHSL Championship. These days Steve resides in Cape Coral, Florida with his wife Cathy and his granddaughter Brooklyn. He returns to Massapequa each September to watch his grandchildren Steven and Joey continue the family tradition with the Massapequa Mustangs.
JOHN DE LUCIE
MIKE RAGUSA
ROY RAGUSA
