Embattled New Rochelle football coach resigns

Embattled coach Louis DiRienzo has resigned as head football coach and teacher at New Rochelle High School.

News 12 Staff

Dec 11, 2019, 3:45 PM

Updated 1,590 days ago

Share:

Embattled coach Louis DiRienzo has resigned as head football coach and teacher at New Rochelle High School.
In a joint written statement, the coach said, “After much thought, I have decided to resign from my positions as head football coach and teacher at New Rochelle High School. I am proud of my students' and teams' accomplishments on and off the football field these past 28 years. I will always be rooting for the Huguenots and the New Rochelle community. I thank the community for its support over the years.”
The school district said, “After 28 years of service to the New Rochelle City School District, its students and student athletes, Coach Louis DiRienzo has decided to resign from his position effective December 31, 2019. The Board thanks Coach DiRienzo for his years of dedicated service to the community and wishes him well in all of his future endeavors.”
The school has been tight-lipped about what caused DiRienzo’s reassignment from coaching duties, but DiRienzo's family speculated his dismissal stemmed from helping a distressed student - who is also a relative - leave the school campus without going through proper channels.
DiRienzo was also facing allegations from the Yonkers Police Department that a student accused him of unlawful contact back in the 1980s.
A parent and former student of DiRienzo told News 12, "He was a terrific human being, he was a tremendous asset to our community. I am personally horrified and sick from this."
DiRienzo's reassignment caused an uproar in the city, with people holding protests and calling for School Superintendent Dr. Laura Feijóo to resign. He was reassigned on Nov. 13, right before the football team made its run through the playoff to a state championship this season.


More from News 12
1:40
Preliminary report uncovers over 100 potential unmarked burials at historic Rye cemetery

Preliminary report uncovers over 100 potential unmarked burials at historic Rye cemetery

2:10
Scattered showers for Friday throughout the Hudson Valley before dry, breezy Saturday

Scattered showers for Friday throughout the Hudson Valley before dry, breezy Saturday

0:12
Police: Woman hurt in Yonkers stabbing

Police: Woman hurt in Yonkers stabbing

0:43
City of Yonkers to run Nepperhan Community Center following financial mismanagement report

City of Yonkers to run Nepperhan Community Center following financial mismanagement report

0:56
Retail prevention plan to include harsher penalties, additional patrols

Retail prevention plan to include harsher penalties, additional patrols

1:47
'Evening in Good Taste' helps feed hungry in Westchester County

'Evening in Good Taste' helps feed hungry in Westchester County

0:45
Authorities: Mahopac man captured sexually explicit images of children with hidden camera

Authorities: Mahopac man captured sexually explicit images of children with hidden camera

0:30
Hearing for New City stabbing suspect rescheduled for next week

Hearing for New City stabbing suspect rescheduled for next week

0:53
Carmel School District closes in on budget agreement following months of debates

Carmel School District closes in on budget agreement following months of debates

0:44
Greenburgh's ex-Parks and Recreation commissioner honored with renaming of multipurpose center

Greenburgh's ex-Parks and Recreation commissioner honored with renaming of multipurpose center

0:37
Virginia man was sentenced to 20 years to life in fatal 2021 shooting of New Rochelle cab driver

Virginia man was sentenced to 20 years to life in fatal 2021 shooting of New Rochelle cab driver

0:34
Westchester DA: Yonkers man sentenced 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison for fatal June 2023 hit-and-run

Westchester DA: Yonkers man sentenced 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison for fatal June 2023 hit-and-run

0:28
White Plains police: Teenager arrested in connection to stabbing of 17-year-old outside gas station

White Plains police: Teenager arrested in connection to stabbing of 17-year-old outside gas station

1:54
Middletown couple fight through lawsuits, zoning problems to open New Paltz cannabis dispensary

Middletown couple fight through lawsuits, zoning problems to open New Paltz cannabis dispensary

0:41
State budget proposal would consolidate Medicaid program used in hiring home health aide

State budget proposal would consolidate Medicaid program used in hiring home health aide

1:35
Double Up Food Bucks program comes to Yonkers market

Double Up Food Bucks program comes to Yonkers market

1:45
Surveillance video captures 58 water trucks in South Blooming Grove neighborhood in one month amid water crisis

Surveillance video captures 58 water trucks in South Blooming Grove neighborhood in one month amid water crisis

Vote 2024: Ask your questions for Congressional District 16 Democratic candidates

Vote 2024: Ask your questions for Congressional District 16 Democratic candidates

1:44
Discover a Gothic Revival masterpiece of art and architecture at Lyndhurst Mansion

Discover a Gothic Revival masterpiece of art and architecture at Lyndhurst Mansion

0:51
Save money while helping the planet with these 12 energy-efficient tips

Save money while helping the planet with these 12 energy-efficient tips