John DiClemente

Induction Year: 2026

Location: Central Islip

Categories: Football, Basketball, Officiating

Captained Central Islip High School’s first undefeated league championship football team in 1962 and was a finalist for the prestigious Hansen Award and the first Central Islip player named to the All-Long Island Team.

Returned to Central Islip as a teacher and coach. He was the head football coach at Commack High School and Half Hollow Hills High School East, winning league championships at both schools.

Returned to Central Islip in 1986 and led the Musketeers to two league championships, two conference titles and a Long Island Championship in seven seasons.

He was the Long Island Football Coach of the Year in 1988 and 1989.

Then he became an official and did that job for  50-years.  He specialty was basketball and he officiated league, county and State playoff games and was ranked the county’s top referee 10 times.

He won the Spike Mugs Award, one of officiating’s highest honors.

Also excelled as a baseball coach, winning a league championship at Half Hollow Hills East and leading PAL teams to local, county, state, and national championships in 1990.

Served nearly a decade as Section XI Baseball Chairman and also as Vice President of the New York State Baseball Committee.

Retired from Central Islip High School in 2002 as assistant principal.

A lifelong leader and mentor whose impact on Long Island sports spans generations as a player, coach, official and administrator.