Mike DeFazio is a New Jersey native who attended the Delbarton School. He went on to Columbia University where he played both football and baseball at the Division 1 level in the Ivy League. After undergrad, he earned a Master’s in Sports Management from Columbia University and a Master’s in Education from RELAY Graduate School of Education.
His career began in 2009 at KIPP NYC College Prep in New York City where he had the privilege of being a founder of a new high school and building an athletic department from the ground up. As the founding head coach for both baseball and football, his teams were consistent playoff contenders and both won city championships in 2016 and 2018, respectively. In his time there he was also a Positive Coach Alliance “Double-Goal Coach” award winner and national finalist.
In 2020 he made the transition from high school to the college ranks where he became the Director of Player Personnel leading all recruiting efforts for the Columbia University Football program. In his time there, Columbia’s recruiting classes produced 5 All Ivy League players, 1 All-American and, most importantly, the senior class that won Columbia Football’s first Ivy League championship in 63 years.
In 2022 he made the transition back to the high school level as the Head Football Coach at Ramapo High School where his teams finished 20-4 in two seasons winning a North 1 Group 4 Sectional Championship and the North Group 4 State Championship. In his two years at Ramapo, 11 players went on to play college football, 7 at the Division I level and 4 at the Division III level. While at Ramapo he was a Super Football Conference Coach of the Week and the Liberty Red Division Coach of the Year.
Currently, he is the founding Strength & Conditioning coach at Fair Lawn High School working with all of their student-athletes.
"Mike DeFazio is a well connected, highly organized and well versed advisor. His coaching and recruiting acumen and experience speak for themselves and he delivers invaluable guidance and support to create an exciting path forward for student-athletes."
"Coach DeFazio is a true leader of student-athletes. His outstanding work ethic and attention to detail has provided exceptional opportunities for the student-athletes he has coached and mentored. While leading the Ramapo football program, Coach DeFazio built upon a tradition of success, both on the field and in the classroom. Ramapo High School benefitted from Coach DeFazio's enthusiasm, experience and commitment to excellence."
"Mike has had a profound impact on my coaching career. I can personally attribute a lot of my personal success to the fact that I spent time working with Mike and learned what the standard should be. I have never worked with someone who was as detail and process oriented as Mike. He left no stone unturned as a coach. Whether it was culture and academic development, strength and conditioning, fundraising, college recruiting, technical X's and O's, Mike covered all bases with undeniable attention to detail and passion. His resume should speak for itself - there is not a place that he has gone where he hasn't been successful; and the record proves that. But the most impressive aspect of Mike - not only as a coach but as a person - is how much he cares about the people around him and invests in them and their success. Since my time after working with Mike, I have moved to Florida and have gone on to coach multiple division 1 athletes and three and four star athletes, and also competed against some of the best teams and athletes in the nation. I would not have been prepared to do that if I had not worked with Mike."
"I've had the privilege of knowing Mike DeFazio for over 25 years—first as his teacher and coach, then as a mentor and close friend. He is one of the most talented and driven leaders I’ve ever met, a meticulous planner who runs a truly transformational football program. Mike blends cutting-edge strategy, relentless work ethic, and an unmatched ability to connect with his team, fostering success at every level. Simply put, Coach DeFazio is the ultimate competitor and a proven winner."
