Coaches Corner: GL Football Coach Terry Hanratty

Gov. Livingston High School head football coach Terry Hanratty is in his eighth season roaming the Highlanders sideline.

Where it all started

The former football and baseball standout at Elizabeth High School took his talents to Kean University as a defensive back and first baseman before entering the coaching ranks.

Hanratty teaches physical education at Gov. Livingston, but his other aspiration was to teach the game of football.

“I always wanted to be a coach,” said Hanratty. “I volunteered at Elizabeth when I got out of college for two years. Then I got hired as coach and to teach physical education here.”

What’s the best advice you give to your players?

“The hard work in the off-season is what gets you to be the player you are.”

Best moment in coaching

“When the crowd rushed the field when we beat Summit when we were going for the state championship in 2008. We played Summit at home and we won the semi-final, and that was taking us to the final at Giants Stadium. It was a very exciting game.”

Hanratty, along with captains Ian Cunningham and Paul Beisser, made history in 2008 when the Governor Livingston football team took the field at Giants Stadium on Friday night, Dec. 5, 2008 to face Caldwell for the Group 3 state championship. For Hanratty and his players, it was a game to remember, despite being on the losing end, finishing the season 8-3.

“It was a great experience for the school. It was only the second time they were in a state final for football.”

In an interesting sidebar, GL Principal Scott McKinney, a Berkeley Heights native, played in the only other state title game in school history back in 1989 against New Providence.

What goal would you still like to achieve?

“We’d like to win the conference and the state championship.”

Name three athletes that you’d like to have dinner with?

“I think Peyton Manning is number one – the best quarterback in the history of the NFL.  Lawrence Taylor was one of the most fierce linebackers in the NFL.  Those are two unbelievable players.  I guess Deion Sanders would be next. He was a very exciting player.”