Domenico DeLisi: He’ll always be first

December 23, 2024 Andy Furman

A promotional flyer welcoming Domenico DeLisi as women’s flag football coach at St. Joseph’s University, Brooklyn. The “Welcome to Brooklyn” isn’t exactly correct — he’s been coaching several sports at Fort Hamilton High School in Bay Ridge. Photo courtesy of Andy Furman

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To be first – there is nothing better.

Think about it — no one remembers who finishes second in the Kentucky Derby.

For Domenico DeLisi, well, Christmas came early — he became a first last week when he was tabbed the new women’s flag football coach at Brooklyn’s St. Joseph’s University. The Bears will offer women’s flag football for the first time in 2025.

“I played all sports as a kid growing up,” he gleefully told the Brooklyn Eagle after his announcement, “but when I became a teacher, I wanted to coach football.”

He did, at his high school alma mater — Fort Hamilton. “I asked the coach if I could help, and I did.”

The 29-year-old graduate of Stony Brook University did more than help the Fort Hamilton High School Tigers. Since 2019, he has been part of that school’s flag football coaching staff — and he served as head coach during the shortened 2021 season.

In fact, with DeLisi involved, the Tigers competed in five consecutive playoff appearances with a whopping 31-5-2 record to show, as well as three Brooklyn division titles.

“Coaching,” DeLisi said, “is part of my identity.” Perhaps the rest of his identity is teaching AP psychology at Fort Hamilton High School.

But back to flag football, DeLisi saw his senior, Makayla Lewis, lead her division with five rushing touchdowns while ranking third in both passing touchdowns (12) and passing yards (737) during the 2023 season. Lewis also placed in the Top 10 of the Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) in those categories.

But there is more on the DeLisi coaching resume. He coached Fort Hamilton’s junior varsity boys’ tackle football team from 2019-2021 and, since August, 2021, he served as assistant to Daniel Perez on the varsity.

Want some results?

The Tigers made back-to-back Division 3A Championship appearances in 2023 and 2024 — finishing 9-2 this past season. Senior quarterback Aidan Farley led his division with 1,328 passing yards, 88 completions and 19 passing touchdowns. Wide receiver August Porter topped the division with 30 receptions.

Oh, there’s more on that DeLisi list — he served as girls’ junior varsity assistant basketball coach from 2021-2023.

So, with all this success, and a great Fort Hamilton foundation, why venture to the unknown, and a first-year program at St. Joseph’s University?

“Honestly, I didn’t know much about the school at first,” he said, “but after meeting with Megan (Valentine, the athletic director) I felt like this is where I needed to be.”

DeLisi said he was excited when he got the e-mail from Valentine for his interview. “College is where I wanted to be, and I love the challenge of being able to build a program from scratch.”

Valentine said the committee was impressed with Dom’s energy, in a statement announcing his hire. “We like his vision for building the team, and his connections to football in the local community. We appreciated that he has coached girls’ flag football at the high school level and can bring that experience here for our student-athletes.”

DeLisi says he plans about a six-contest first-year schedule that will start in late March and run until May. “We are not in a league yet; we will probably play some round-robin matches. And our home field will probably be at Aviator.”

He says flag football is a great outlet for women, and St. Joseph’s University is the only college in Brooklyn to offer the sport. “In fact, only Wagner College and Staten Island Community College offer flag football for women,” he said.

DeLisi will remain at Fort Hamilton — yes, teaching AP psychology and coaching boys’ trickle football. “Our seasons won’t conflict,” he says. “I’ll be able to do both.”

He’ll also recruit prospective student-athletes. “There’s good football in New York City,” he said, “be it the PSAL or Catholic Leagues (CHSAA). We are here to give these young ladies an opportunity to play in Brooklyn.”

And be first.

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