Rich Reichert, 55, enters his 21st season as the St. Anthony's football coach. He owns a stellar 161-43-3 mark and has won nine CHSFL Class AAA titles since 1993, including six in a row. Friarsfootball.com editor Jason Molinet stopped in to chat with Reichert:

Where was the program at when you took over? It wasn't in bad shape. We hadn't gotten over the hump and won one. The year before I took over — I was the assistant — we went 6-3.

And the year you took over? We ended up 7-2.

How did you get the program from good to dominant? It was about winning one. The kids got the confidence and it took off from there. In 1993 we finally won one. And then we won two more in a row. It was just a matter of winning one.

Tell me about this upcoming season. On paper, we look real good. But it's all about chemistry. We've got our quarterback back. That's always big. And with Scott Vallone and some other linemen back, we've got some guys who will be good players.

You spent 20 years as a Nassau police officer before retiring in January 2003. How were you able to balance such a demanding job with that of a football coach? I was working straight midnight shifts. It was difficult. The big thing was with college coaches. They want to come in when they want and I had to find the time to accommodate them. I'm a phys ed teacher at the school now, so I'm always around.

What's your philosophy as a coach? We expect certain things out of the players. The No. 1 thing is respecting each other. We ask you to practice hard for two hours and don't do anything off the field that would bring embarrassment to the school.''

What's something you are proud about as a coach? When I look at what the kids accomplished after high school. You see the kids at games. They're working on Wall Street or they became cops and firemen. Others are in the military.

What's your No. 1 memory as coach? Winning the first one. That's always special. Then in 2004 — with my son, Richie — that was a close group.

Any plans to retire anytime soon? I take it one year at a time. This year Richie is playing college ball [at American International College in Springfield, Mass., where he will likely start at linebacker]. We're playing a lot of Friday night games so I'll get to see half of his games, which is good.''