Dennis Hard, Head Coach
After serving four years at Westwood Regional coordinating one of North Jersey’s most ferocious and stingiest defenses, Dennis Hard became the Cardinals’ fifteenth head football coach on May 1, 2015. A thirty-five year+ coaching veteran and former head coach at Wallington and Weehawken where he amassed a record of 64-47, Coach Hard is highly regarded in Bergen County as a man of solid character and a proven leader of young men. His distiguished coaching careeer also includes assistant coaching roles at Wallington (State Champs ’90), Paramus Catholic, Bergen Tech and Wayne Valley and Head Wrestling Coach at River Dell. An All Conference lineman at Ridgefield Park HS and William Paterson College, he has two grown daughters and lives in Teaneck with his wife, Bernadette.
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Kris Izzo, Freshman Head Coach
Entering his 16th season, Coach Izzo begins his 5th year dedicated to the offensive line. A product of Emerson High School, he was a two sport letter winner who played varsity baseball at Dominican College. Kris also served as Westwood's Head Baseball Coach, teaches history at WWRHS, and resides in Park Ridge with his wife Kristy.
Robert Guy, Offensive Coordinator
Entering his 9th season, Coach Guy is the architect of the Cardinals offensive attack. He began his coaching career as a Grad Assistant at his alma mater, Pace University, where he was an All-Conference linebacker. A graduate of Fair Lawn HS, Bobby was also a decorated All-County tight-end. He teaches math at WWRHS and lives in Westwood with his wife, Shannon and son Desmond with baby #2 on the way!
Matthew Penn, Reciever / D-Back Coach
Entering his 6th season - after 3 years coaching at Bergen Tech, Coach Penn returns to the sidelines of his Alma mater where he was an All-League safety and integral part of the 2004 State Championship team. A graduate of Southern Connecticut with a degree in Special Ed/History, Matt teaches at Westwood Middle School and currently resides in Ramsey with his wife, Jaime and son Cam.
Peter Lesler - Defensive Backs / Receivers
Peter begins his first season with the Cardinals after an eleven year stint at
Montclair State University. 2011 - 2021, Pete was also the Head Coach at Bergen Tech for five seasons, and also served under Vito Campanile as an assistant coach at Tech for two seasons. Wood Ridge and Boonton High Schools are also on his coaching resume. Pete is a math teacher at the Haskell School in Wanaque and currently resides in Ringwood with his wife Kelly and two children Dennis and Abby.
Derek Nelson - Receivers / Defensive Backs
Derek begins his first season with the Red Birds after coaching at Waldwick High School. He also is the freshman basketball coach here at Westwood, and will be employed at the high school during the day . Nelson was a receiver at Wilkes University for four seasons. Derek is the son of Denis Nelson , Athletic Director of rival River Dell. Nelson currently resides in Pequannock NJ.
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Tom O'Melia, Offensive Line
Entering his 8th season at Westwood, Tommy 'Moose' O'Melia is a 2016 HOF Inductee, an All-County lineman and mainstay on the Cardinals 2000 State title team. A WW assistant for 7 years, he also earned a title in '06 under Coach Straub and coached for Vito Campanile. Tom played football at Montclair, teaches PhysEd at Washington School, and lives in Emerson with his wife, Janine, son Thomas "The Duke" and daughter Tess.
Amir Saadah, Defensive Coordinator
Coach Saadah joined the Cardinals coaching staff as a defensive assistant for the 2019 season. He played collegiately at the University of New Hampshire as a middle linebacker in the early 2000s. In 2005, Coach Saadah began his coaching career at Hawthorne HS followed by a head coaching position at his alma mater, Fair Lawn HS where he played football and wrestled. He then served as an assistant coach at Wayne Valley HS for 3 years before taking on his new position here at WW. Coach Saadah resides in Fair Lawn with his wife and 3 daughters.
Ed Suri, Quarterback Coach
Coach Suri joined the Cardinals coaching staff as an offensive assistant for the 2019 season. The 17 year veteran coach played collegiately at Montclair State University as a quarterback and defensive back in the early 2000s. In 2003, Coach Suri began his coaching career at Rutherford High followed by successful stints at Becton Regional, Dover and most recent Wayne Valley where he served as the offensive coordinator. Coach Suri resides in Hasbrouck Heights with his wife, Nina and son Charles. Mrs.Suri is a guidance counselor at Westwood Regional HS.
John Zisa, Defensive Line
Coah Zisa's high school coaching career spans 30+ years. He’s been an offensive and/or defensive line coach and strength and conditioning coordinator at Paterson Catholic, Paramus Catholic, Elmwood Park, and Rutherford. Since 2008, Zisa has been a member of the Westwood Cardinals coaching staff, serving under Vito Campanile his former player and son of Mike Campanile, patriarch of one of New Jersey's most prolific coaching families, who gave John his first coaching position.
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