After leading Albany High School to three wins in a row to close the 2015 season, Albany head football coach Joey DiPiazza is receiving national recognition.

Joey DiPiazza speaks to his football team at Albany High (Joey DiPiazza).
Joey DiPiazza speaks to his football team at Albany High (Joey DiPiazza).
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DiPiazza has been nominated for the "Dove Men Caring Coach of the Year Award," for his role in the transformation of the Falcons program.

In addition to a better on-field product, DiPiazza has helped bring back community pride, has helped bring in a new athletic facility, has ushered a new era of team chemistry and has done it all through his process of "We Building."

From DiPiazza's official nomination:

"In Albany, NY one man is making a difference against all odds. Coach Joe DiPiazza has taken over the reigns of a HS football program notorious for losing and abandoning hope and has transformed them through character development and mentoring. Coach DiPiazza has surrounded his players with life coach mentors and has showed these young men that they have responsibilities on and off the field of play. Stressing academics and community engagement, Coach DiPiazza has his team and the community BELIEVING. Upon his arrival in Albany, he recognized that his team had no football field. He also learned that the school could in fact build one in a cost neutral effort. It was the first time Coach DiPiazza learned that his battles were going to be on and off the field. Determined to have the community invest in their team, Coach DiPiazza, with help from an organizer, began an aggressive campaign and successfully placed the new field initiative on the ballot. The football players aggressively campaigned by working the phones and knocking on doors. A record turnout at the polls provided an overwhelming approval for the new field... Coach DiPiazza is the first to recognize that they have not one senior on his team. He knows the Falcons are undersized and over matched but he professes the mantra of "We-Building." A New field and a new look.

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