OUR STAFF

The All-Star Football Camp has a coaching staff with years of qualified experience. With a great player-to-coach ratio, every athlete will receive that professional instruction in a small group setting.
 

John DePalma
DIRECTOR

John DePalma began his football playing career at the age of 8 years for Fair Lawn Football Association. He played at Fair Lawn High School for legendary coach Pete Natale from 1983-1986 where he was a three year starter and an All-League performer for the Cutters. His career High School record was 33-5 and he played in the famous “Game of the Century” in Passaic County against Passaic High School in the NJSIAA playoffs. After graduation he went on to play football at Ramapo College, where he earned his bachelors degree, and was a three-year starter at linebacker for coach Jim Miceli. He was an All-NJAC selection in 1990. Ramapo had a record of 27-7 during those three seasons and won the ECAC South Bowl championship.
 

His coaching career began in 1992 as he was an assistant coach for Paramus Catholic High School. That team featured many All-League, All-County and All-State performers as they reached the state finals against Bergen Catholic. That game was voted as the “Game of the Century” by the Star Ledger in Bergen County giving him the unique distinction of being involved in the games of the century in Bergen and Passaic counties. The next year he was promoted to Defensive Coordinator at Paramus Catholic, making him the youngest coordinator in the NNJIL. From 1994-1996 he became the Defensive Coordinator for his alma mater Fair Lawn HS. During those three years FLHS enjoyed an 18-9 record, the best three year run from 1986 to the present. In 1997, he was offered his first Head Coaching position at Elmwood Park High School, a team that had not won a game in the previous two years. He guided them to 12 wins in his tenure, the most wins over that stretch in 25 years. In 2001, he was given the opportunity to revitalize another struggling program at Rutherford High School. Rutherford was coming off 2 consecutive 1 win seasons when he took over. In his 4 years he led the Bulldogs to a 28-15 record, a league championship and 3 consecutive state playoff appearances including a state final. He coached many All-League, All-County and All-State players, some who went to be very successful in the collegiate ranks. He has received many accolades in his career. 1997 North Jersey Media Group Coach of the Year, 2002 and 2003 Bergen County Scholastic League Coach of the Year, 2003 Bergen County Coach of the Year and 2004 National Football Foundation Coach of the Year. After 13 years coaching High School Football he decided to spend more time with his family and coached the 7th and 8th grade football team for the Wayne Boys and Girls Club who won the 2007 and 2009 NJJFL Super Bowl. In 2011 he returned to the High School ranks where he was an assistant coach for DePaul Catholic HS for 7 years. In those 7 years DePaul was a State finalist 5 times and won the NJSIAA state championship 4 times. In 2018 he became an assistant coach at Wayne Valley HS.  In 2019 Wayne Valley won its first state championship in 28 years. 
 

He lives in Wayne with his wife, Michele, and 3 sons, Nick, Vinny and Anthony.

 

STAFF

Our Staff is comprised of many respected and experienced High School and College coaches from the area. Including DePaul Catholic, Wayne Valley, PCTI and Rutherford. In addition, we are fortunate to have outstanding local high school and college athletes who have attended and/or assisted at the camp in the past.