Brescia, who was the head football coach from 1962-76 and an assistant track coach from 1969-1973,
made sure that his players were well prepared for games and for life. “Coach Brescia was always in
charge,” said Bruce Garland, a member of the record-setting 1966 team. “He set the tone for every
practice and game but adapted to the change in personnel every year. In our undefeated year (1966),
we fed off his confidence and belief in us. He let us have fun in practice and games but saw to it
we never lost focus. That focus was to do our best and to take winning seriously as a team.”
Steinert played an independent schedule in the 1960s and 70s against some of the state’s largest
schools and better teams. The 1966 Spartan entry went 9-0 and was the only Group IV team in New Jersey
to go undefeated and untied and remains the only undefeated football team in SHS history.
Brescia knows what it takes to be a winner. A three-sport standout at Bristol (Pa.) High School,
he earned eight varsity letters and earned all-star recognition for his ability as a tackle in football
and for throwing the discus. He graduated with two majors and seven varsity letters from West Chester
University. He used the degrees in social studies and health and physical education as a teacher at
Steinert from 1962-77. He closed out his career in education with a 20-year stint in the Pemberton
Township School District where he worked his way up from assistant principal to high school principal
and then from assistant superintendent to acting superintendent of schools.
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