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The Ultimate Testament

The Final Touchdown, a retirement dinner for veteran Coach Steve Filippone on Sunday, April 23, will be a celebration of legendary success: 37 years of coaching, and 28 years as head coach of Daniel Hand High School, a seven-day-a-week, 365-day-a-year commitment that only passion for the game and a belief in what the football program offers our youth and community could sustain.

Steve’s love for the game has resulted in numerous state and national coaching awards. His record is historic in stature, but it is secondary to the tremendous respect and admiration of the entire Madison community, a community which he loves.

Larry Ciotti began the Madison Football program in 1971. Upon this foundation of a program/sport that requires commitment, drive, discipline, trust, and teamwork, coaches Ciotti and Filippone and their staffs and volunteers have given our youth, thousands in number, life skills to live by.

Led by example by a role model for all, each player is asked, both on and off the field, to bring distinction and honor to his school and community. In turn, they find a belief in themselves, a desire for excellence, an awareness of character and integrity in action, and lifelong friendships forged by coaching that believed in, guided, and inspired them.

Athletes will say, “You play for the love of the game, your teammates, and your coach.” Steve Filippone’s retirement closes out a successful football coaching career. However, his ongoing legacy will continue in tomorrow’s future—through his former players becoming better men, better leaders, and better citizens—and that will continue as the ultimate testament to Coach Fil’s life work.

For ticket purchases and for gift donations, readers can visit www.tigerpridefootball.com or contact Barbara Ciotti at bciotti@aol.com or 203-245-0282.

Nancy Gerson

Madison