New York Dragons hire Long Island native as head coach in search of local talent

These dragons have a new master. The New York Dragons have introduced Long Island football great Gerald Filardi as head coach ahead of the arena football team’s inaugural year in the Entertainment Football Association (ENTFLA). “There’s a lot of work to be done with a new league, which is exciting,” Filardi told The Post, adding that he’s already looking at local colleges like Stony Brook for homegrown recruits. Throughout his life, Filardi, who played with the Pittsburgh Steelers and is the varsity head coach of Half Hollow Hills West, knows his way around the gridiron. Actually, it was thanks to his high school tenure that the Dragons opportunity first came to be. “A former player’s dad reached out … and I kind of laughed it off, to be honest,” he candidly said. “Then it got in the back of my head and I thought, ‘I really would be interested in this.’ … It’s exciting, we’re going to be in a mix for a championship.” In Long Island baseball action, Carle Place heads to Locust Valley Friday night at 5, and Connetquot hosts Elmira at 10 a.m.Saturday. ...