ABOUT JERRY FLORA
Jerry Flora
ADDITIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Bachelor’s in business management – Iona University (Feb. 1993)
- Master of Science in School Administration – Iona University – (Feb. 2002)
- Permanent NYS Certification – School Administration/Supervision (Sept. 2002)
- Permanent NYS Physical Education Certification
- Certificate of Eligibility – School Administration – New Jersey (2019)
- Assistant Director of Recreation/Director of Club Sports (2017-2019) – WPU
MEET JERRY FLORA
Jerry Flora has been coaching and mentoring student-athletes for 32 years. He has served as the head football coach at both the collegiate and high school levels for 13 years. Additionally, Flora was the Chairperson of the AFCA District 2 All-American Committee from 2015 to 2017. He also earned a professional certificate in NFL GM and Scouting from Sports Management Worldwide in 2020 while serving as the Vice President of the Section 1 Coaches Football Association from 2022 to 2024.
In 2024, Flora coached at Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, NY, where he mentored the running backs and coordinated the special teams and strength and conditioning programs.
In his three seasons as head coach at Sleepy Hollow High School in Sleepy Hollow, NY, Coach Flora successfully guided 10 players to pursue their football careers at the collegiate level, either by playing or working in football operations. Notable examples include Aren Arduino, a 2021 graduate who currently works as the Head Edge Recruiting Assistant for the University of Virginia Football Program; Scott Klami, a 2024 graduate who serves as a student worker in football operations for Cortland State, the 2023 D3 National Champions; and Shannon Klami, a 2024 graduate working in athletic operations at SUNY Cobleskill.
Under Flora’s leadership, the program made significant improvements on the field, winning the most games since 2017. This success was highlighted by Evan Bowen, a 2024 prospect who earned Honorable Mention All-State, All-Section, and All-League in Class B. He also became just the seventh player in the program’s history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season. In his first season at Alfred State, Evan earned a spot on the All-League Second Team. Additionally, four of Flora’s former players made postseason appearances in 2024: Damon Fedor at Brockport, Evan Bowen and Tyler Valenti at Alfred State, and Scott Klami at Cortland.
During his time at Sleepy Hollow High School, Flora coordinated the Junior Horsemen/Cheer Program, organized a Golf Outing Fundraiser, and implemented the program’s first Ring of Honor. He actively participated in various community service initiatives with the Gullotta House, including the Polar Plunge, the Los Andes Bakery Holiday Celebration, the Tarrytown Historical Society Spring Cleanup, and the Sleepy Hollow Food Pantry. Additionally, Flora organized a college coach fair for prospective high school players and served as the Head Football Coach for the South Section 1 Exceptional Senior Game for two seasons.
Coach Flora has extensive college coaching experience, having spent 16 years on the staff at William Paterson University. He served as the head coach for 10 years, during which he achieved a program record of 33 wins, placing him second in the university’s history. Under his leadership, the team produced four All-Americans, three All-ECAC selections, three d3football.com All-Region selections, and 68 All-NJAC selections.
Flora also established a student-worker program, as highlighted by Anthony Pietanza (Stony Brook, New York Giants, Rutgers – Video Operations), Kyle McGough (UCLA and Michigan Strength and Conditioning Intern), and Anthony Cimino (Director of Football Operations at WPU).
Before joining William Paterson, Flora served as a coach at Division I-AA Iona College from 1992 to 1996 and again from 1998 to 2001, where he focused on mentoring the wide receivers. He also held the roles of special team’s coordinator and alumni relations liaison, contributing to the team’s success in winning the inaugural Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) title in 1993. In the interim, from 1997 to 1998, Flora worked as the offensive line coach at FDU-Florham.
Flora is married 26 years to his wife Diane who works as an office admin at Our Lady of Sorrows School in White Plains, NY. They have three children, Francis (12th Grade WPHS), and twins Charlotte and Dominic (Entering 9th Grade WPHS). The family resides in White Plains, NY.
A History of Leadership
In Flora’s first season as the offensive coordinator at William Paterson in 2008, his quick-strike philosophy transformed the Pioneers into one of the most prolific passing attacks in the league. The team improved significantly, moving from second-to-last in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) stats in 2006, with an average of 127.6 passing yards per game, to fourth place in 2008, averaging 218.9 yards per game.
During his tenure at William Paterson, Flora recruited and/or developed three Hall of Fame members, including Kareen Moon, the all-time leader in career receiving yards and receptions for the Pioneers, as well as Joel Rivera and former standout Ryan Gresik, who served as the Pioneers’ all-time passing leader in 2012 and 2013.
In each of his first six seasons as an assistant with the Pioneers, at least one of his wide receivers earned all-conference honors, including Bryant Richardson (2002-2003) and Kareen Moon (2004-2007).
Additionally, he played a key role in recruiting several notable all-NJAC performers, including Chris Schule (2009), Keith Sayball (2009), Jeffrey Arista (2008), Chuck Patterson (2007), Frank Musolino (2007), Shadee Davis (2005), Tim Dolan (2006), Dan Casasnovas (2005-06), and Tom Larsen (2003, 2005).
Overall, 21 players from the program participated in national All-Star games during Flora’s tenure at William Paterson. This included the NJAC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2008, the NJAC Special Teams Player of the Year in 2013, and the NJAC Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2014. Furthermore, three of Flora’s players received the Arthur Ashe Jr. National Sports Scholar Award in 2009, 2011, and 2013 (where one was a national finalist). Among them was German Decena, who was recognized as one of the ten male national finalists for the Diverse: Issues in Higher Education 2013 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award.
In his journey to becoming a successful head coach, Flora held various roles as an assistant coach in college, including:
- Strength & Conditioning Coach
- Offensive Coordinator
- Recruiting Coordinator
- Special Teams Coordinator
- Academics Liaison
Throughout this process, Flora coached every offensive position and managed many of the program’s administrative duties.
As a player, Flora was a three-year starter at offensive tackle at Iona College and transitioned to starting tight end during his senior year, while playing with several notable FBS Assistant Coaches (Kyle Flood-OL, Texas) and (Rocco Bellantoni– DC-Florida Atlantic). His performance earned him an invitation to try out for the 1992 Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Former NFL Prospects Coached by Flora
2009 – Joel Rivera – New York Jets
2012 – Leer Biddle – Philadelphia Soul – AFL
2013 – Dashawn Johnson – Green Bay Packers – AFL
2014 – Michael Vannucci – Played Pro in Europe
2015 – Matt Deiana – New York Giants – Played Pro in Germany
2015 – Dwaine Dabney – New York Giants
2016 – Anthony DiMarsico – New York Jets
Coaching with Pro Players
In 2013, Flora’s Staff Consisted of 3 Former NFL Players
Shaun Williams, who was selected 24th overall by the New York Giants in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft,
Stanley “Tony” Woods, the 18th overall selection of the 1987 NFL Draft who spent six years as a member of the Seattle Seahawks (1987-92) before moving on to the Los Angeles Rams (1993) and the Washington Redskins (1994-96).
Torrance “Tank” Daniels – who signed with the Philadelphia Eagles and made his NFL debut on Nov. 26, 2006, against the Indianapolis Colts. In 2007, Daniels was picked up by the New York Giants, where he was a part of the Super Bowl championship team.
Coaching Players with Integrity
In 2013 William Paterson Football made national news as Four Football Pioneers were featured by local and national media for an act of honesty. In Aug. 2013, four freshmen members of the football team were attempting to make a purchase between practice sessions from a store that, unknown to them, was temporarily closed. After trying to locate a clerk in the fully lit, unlocked shop, the players left cash on the counter to pay for their purchase.
As it turned out, the door has malfunctioned, and with the lights on, it had left the players with the impression the store was open for business. When the cash was discovered and video survelleilance of their honesty was reviewed, the story was featured on some 750 media outlets nationwide, including the Today Show and on ESPN.