NEWBURGH – Newburgh Free Academy Varsity Football Coach Billy Bianco has become the winningest coach in NFA football history. Coach Bianco went ahead of the previous winningest record set by Coach Rip Fornell with 96 wins after the recent win against Monroe Woodbury. Coach Fornell’s record had been intact since the early 1980s when Coach Fornell retired.
During his time as head coach, the Newburgh Free Academy Goldbacks have competed in two state championships and have won six section titles. Coach Bianco has been named coach of the year for Section 9 for five separate seasons.
Coach Bianco began teaching in the Newburgh Enlarged City School District in 2001 and began coaching the same year. He took over as head coach in 2009 when Coach Charlie “CT” Chatam retired. Coach Bianco has taught physical education at GAMS, Heritage Middle School, and now NFA Main Campus.
One of the many highlights of his career is watching the evolution of his students and his athletes. Two students turned athletes in particular hold a special place in Coach Bianco’s heart. Jason McCallister and Mikal Meyers both started with Coach Bianco in his physical education class in elementary school at GAMS. Both students later played NFA Varsity Football under Coach Bianco. Jason McCallister now coaches the Goldbacks alongside Bianco. Mikal Myers is now coaching college football for the University of Maine.
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