CARDINAL COACHES

  CARDINAL COACHES  
Robert Guy, Head Coach 

Entering his 10th season with the Cardinals, Coach Guy was handed the regins and took over as head coach this year. Bobby was the architect of the Cardinals offensive attack for many years affording him plenty of experience both on and off the field.  He began his coaching career as a Graduate Assistant at his alma mater, Pace University, where he was an All-Conference linebacker.  A graduate of Fair Lawn High School, Bobby was also a decorated All-County tight-end for the Cutters.  He is a math/special education teacher here at Westwood Regional High School and resides locally in Westwood with his wife Shannon, son Desmond and daughter Maeve.

 
 Kris Izzo, Freshman Head Coach 
Entering his 17th season, Coach Izzo begins his 6th 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 who is expecting their first child.

Peter Lesler - Defensive Backs / Receivers
Peter begins his 2nd season with the Cardinals after an eleven year stint at 
Montclair State University. 2011 - 2021, Pete was the former 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.

 
Steve Baez
Prepared for his debut season with the Cardinals, Steve arrives following a 2-year coaching term at DePaul Catholic HS. Alongside his coaching responsibilities, he contributes his expertise as a Business Teacher at WRMS. A graduate of Westwood's class of 2015, Steve's leadership was evident as he captained the State Championship teams consecutively in '13 & '14. He continued his athletic journey by playing football at Wesleyan University and subsequently obtaining a business degree from Indiana University. Currently calling Fair Lawn home with his fiancé, Amanda, Steve remains deeply engaged in the sports scene, coaching Freshman Baseball at Westwood and exemplifying his commitment to athletic development.
Chris Gibbons
Chris brings 11 years of coaching experience from Ridgefield Park to his first season at Westwood Regional High School. He specialized in coaching both offensive and defensive lines. At Westwood, he'll help coach the freshman team and handle various duties. As a Ridgefield Park High School alum, he was part of their Hall of Fame-Inducted undefeated state championship team. Chris played college football at Salve Regina University, adding to his expertise. He's also taking on a role as a guidance counselor at Westwood, showcasing his commitment to students' all-round development.
Mike Bruno
Mike is a 2018 graduate of Park Ridge HS, is taking on his first role as an assistant coach with the Westwood HS football program. Currently pursuing a degree in exercise science and physical education, Mike has already showcased his dedication to the sport as a film editor for the team for the past two seasons. With a keen focus on the offensive and defensive line, his specialized knowledge adds a valuable perspective to the coaching staff. Additionally, he will be dedicating time to coaching the freshman football team, contributing to the development of young talents within the program.
Tom O'Melia, Offensive Line
Entering his 9th 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 Westwood assistant for 7 years, he also earned a title in '06 under Coach Straub and coached for Vito Campanile. Tom played football at Montclair State University, teaches Physical Educatin at Washington School in the Twp of Washington, 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 High School followed by a head coaching position at his alma mater, Fair Lawn High School where he played both football and wrestled. He then went on to serve as an assistant coach at Wayne Valley High School  for 3 years before taking on his new position here at Westwood. 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 ZisaDefensive 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. 


Ian Borgersen 
A standout quarterback and graduate of Westwood High School, Ian brings his expertise back to the program as a volunteer assistant. With a history of excellence at Westwood, he earned notable recognition, incuding all-league and all-group 2 honor during his time as QB. Ian's retunr to his alma mater sees him contributing to the coaching staff, primarily focusing on guiding the freshman team while shouldering other responsibilities. His experience and commitment are set to provide valuable insights to the next generation of players.