Sports Brooklyn Boro

Transit Tech Football: A real express

December 12, 2022 Andy Furman

The Transit Tech High School football team. Photo courtesy of Transit Tech CTE High School on Facebook.

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Christmas came early at Transit Tech Career and Technical Education High School.

How early?

May 13th of this year to be exact.

That was the date the 107-year-old school on Wells Street in East New York was granted a football team.

Their first-ever football team.

“Based on our demographics and our 10-page proposal, the PSAL told us we got it,” first-year coach Nga Warren told the Eagle.

“This was a long-standing dream for the Transit Tech High School Community,” he said. “We saw all the possibilities walking around the building and the neighborhood.”

Formerly known as East New York High School, Warren says the student body consists of about 900 students – 90% of which are boys.

And then the work really started.

“To get our first-season off the ground we needed help from The National Football Foundation’s Marc Hudak, and AFCA’s Mike Welch,” Warren said.

There’s more – much more.

Transit Tech got major support from the New York Jets, the Giants and Yankees, according to Warren. Brands like LHP, Nike and Riddell.

Local politicians stepped up – like Sandy Nurse. Community organizations – The Boys and Girls Club of Metro Queens, My Brother’s Keeper, Man Up and The Brooklyn Saints.

“The support of the entire East New York Community has been amazing,” the 47-year-old-coach said.

What’s even more amazing – the results.

A $100,000 check was presented by Jets players Michael Cater and Elijah Moore, supporting Transit Tech’s new uniforms and the Jets annual Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) helmet reconditioning program.

Warren, then head coach at Tilden High School in 2020 was the Jets High School Coach of the Year.

“I remember our first team meeting,” the coach says, “we had about 70 students, rising juniors and seniors. It was easy getting the group excited.”

But there were no footballs, no uniforms, and most importantly no home field or practice field.

“I called coaches in and around the city for support, help and equipment,” said Warren, who serves as Assistant Principal and Athletic Director as well as head football coach at Tech. “We went to public parks for daily practices.”

Helmets – no problem.

Former Ithaca College football coach Mike Welch to the rescue thanks to help from Assistant Tech coach Larry Jones, says Warren.

All this activity took place after Tech got the OK to field a team in May – and, gulp, budgets closed in April – and a game was set for September.

“We created history every time we stepped on the field,” Warren said. “Our first game was played in the pouring rain. Senior running back Sean McCorkle led us to our first touchdown in school history on a 30-yard run with less than two-minutes left in the game for a 6-0 win over George Washington High School.”

East Harlem High provided Tech with the first-ever loss, 3-0 as they converted a 42-yard field goal for the only score of the game.

A week later it was a 14-0 shutout over Evader Childs; next, a 36-0 win over Info Tech.

Mott Haven Campus stopped the mini-streak and then Tech closed their first season with a 36-0 win over A-Tech – a 5-2 record and a playoff berth.

As for home games, The Express share Boys and Girls High School Field; and they played one game at Franklin K. Lane High School.

“Without a home field or practice field,” Warren said, “all of East New York became our home – the men, women and parents who sacrificed for these young scholar athletes who deserve all the credit.”

Well, maybe not all the credit.

Nga Warren coached at Franklin K. Lane (2008-17) – won two City titles; and in 2012 and 2017 were Division Champions.

In 2019 he took Tilden to the PSAL semi-finals.

The future looks bright – with or without a field – for the Transit Tech Express.

Transit Tech has reinvented itself many times over the past decades as it seeks to prepare students for the New York job market a well as for college.

It has evolved from an aviation school to one focused on transit systems and electricity to adding technology-focused classes.

The East New York school offers three transit-related programs that, the school says, qualify students for working with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority after graduating. It also has four computer-related career programs: information technology, computer networking, computer engineering and one geared to law enforcement.

Those who supported the growth of the Transit Tech Football program, being thanked by Coach Nga Warren:

Tyquan Ward, Larry Jones, Stephen Pineda, Rasheen Nicholson, Warren Hazel, Joshua Skurnik, Larry Thomas, Charles Sanders, Ricardo Allen, Jerry Bryant, Ryan Morales and the Transit Tech Football Parents both Varsity and Junior Varsity.

Andy Furman is a Fox Sports Radio national talk show hist. Previously, he was a scholastic sports columnist for the Brooklyn Eagle. He may be reached at: [email protected] Twitter: @AndyFurmanFSR