Anthony Diorio is Seneca's New Football Coach
Anthony Diorio understands the shoes he has to fill as the new head football coach at Seneca, but he’s looking forward to coaching like he played—meeting the challenge head-on.
Diorio has replaced the only varsity head coach in school history, Bill Fisher, who resigned after the season.
Seneca and Fisher debuted together. After a JV season in 2003, the Golden Eagles and Fisher had their first varsity campaign in 2004. What is interesting is that Fisher’s final two seasons were among his best. The Golden Eagles went 10-2 in each of the last two years. Both seasons they advanced to the sectional final before falling to favored Group 3 teams—Camden in 2022 and eventual state champion Delsea this past season.
Diorio has been an assistant at Seneca for five years, including the last two seasons as the defensive coordinator. Also a physical education/special education teacher at Seneca, he relishes the opportunity to take over the football program.
“I am beyond grateful,” he said. “I love Seneca and everything about it.”
He then expanded on that comment.
“Seneca is a really good place to teach and to coach,” he said. “The kids are awesome, and the community is beyond supportive and it’s such a great environment.”
He understands the challenges he faces in replacing such a successful coach as Fisher.
“I think Fish has done a phenomenal job, he started the program from scratch,” Diorio said. “He built a culture in the community and school.”
In a way, Diorio doesn’t want to alter the original script that Fisher wrote.
“I don’t want to change the traditions that happen here, but want to keep the program going in the direction it is,” he said. “Under coach Fisher, there was a lot of success, and the kids were having a lot of fun.”
Diorio starred at one of Seneca’s Lenape School District Rivals, Shawnee.
A running back/linebacker, he was such a versatile player that in his senior season in 2013, he was named the Philadelphia Inquirer South Jersey Offensive Player of the Year and the Courier Post Defensive Player of the Year.
As a senior he helped Shawnee win the South Jersey Group 4 championship.
During Shawnee’s 31-22 win over Timber Creek in the South Jersey Group 4 title game, he rushed for 140 yards on 26 carries.
He would go on to play college football, first at Dayton and his last three years at Rowan, where he was an accomplished running back/H-back.
At Shawnee he played for Tim Gushue, who is still the coach of the Renegades and is a member of the South Jersey Football Hall of Fame.
“I still talk to coach Gushue on a regular basis, and he has been a great mentor,” Diorio said. “What I learned from him as a coach is you have relationships with these guys for life and I plan on carrying that over and helping my guys in any way I can.”
Diorio also coaches Seneca’s unified basketball team, which includes a mix of special education and general education students.
“It is a blast and so heartwarming,” he said.
Diorio is also an assistant lacrosse coach.
He puts everything into coaching, regardless of the sport. Now he will be at center stage in charge of the football team. The Golden Eagles were hit hard by graduation, but Diorio remains optimistic.
“We have a ton of talent coming up and a lot of guys who are eager to get on the field and I am excited to see them,” he said. “Our numbers are on the rise, especially for a Group 3 school. This is a fun team to be a part of and there is a lot of pride, and I am so excited for this opportunity.”
Photo Courtesy of Anthony Diorio
advertisement
Author: Marc Narducci
Archives
Who’s Who in Health Care
Ahead of the Curve
Money Matters
Going Greener and Cleaner
Self-Made Man
Building Toward the Future
On The Move
Firing Up
Drinking it All In
Caring for One Another
What’s the Big Idea?
Making Connections
Up to the Challenge
Today’s Pupils, Tomorrow’s Professionals
Best of Home & Garden 2024
More...
