COACH SPOTLIGHT
Rich Costante
Marco Island Academy
Head Football Coach
Coaching experience
22 years
At the current school
2 years
Marco Island Academy head football coach Rich Costante reflects on his path into coaching, the work of rebuilding a small-school program, and the players helping shape its future. In this interview, he discusses the standards he sets, the lessons he wants players to carry beyond football, and what the Senior Showcase means to his seniors.
01 The Journey into Coaching
What inspired you to become a football coach, and what has your coaching journey looked like? Where did you play, how did you start coaching, which programs have you been part of, and who influenced your philosophy?
Football has been part of my life since I played defensive line at Downers Grove South High School in Illinois. I kept playing on the defensive line at North Park University, then finished college at Eastern Illinois, where I played rugby. I started coaching at my alma mater, Downers Grove South, in 2001. That season we won a state championship, coaching alongside the man who had coached me, John Belskis. Since then I’ve coached at Niles West High School, Montini Catholic High School, and here in Southwest Florida at Lely High School before coming to Marco Island Academy. Along the way I’ve been a line coach, defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator, and head JV coach. Coach Belskis shaped my philosophy more than anyone. He taught me patience, how to work with officials, and, most importantly, how to make players believe in themselves.
02 Building Your Program’s Identity
What makes your school’s football program special, and what should people throughout Southwest Florida know about it? Consider school traditions, community support, competitive spirit, or the athletes themselves.
Marco Island Academy is a small school, and our football program has had a difficult past. What people across Southwest Florida should know is that the young men in our program today are working incredibly hard to change that story. They show up and put in the work, and they’re committed to building a brighter future for MIA football. What we lack in size, we make up for in effort and heart. I’m proud of the foundation these players are laying for everyone who comes after them.
03 Creating a Winning Culture
How would you describe the culture you have built within your program, and what core values do you expect your athletes to embrace? What does success mean beyond the scoreboard?
Our standards are simple: hit hard and be respectful. We want to play with physicality and intensity, and we want to carry ourselves with class on and off the field. One of the clearest signs of how far we’ve come is that we have finished every game of both of the last two seasons. In years past, the program had to cancel games late in the season because of injuries and low numbers. A big part of that change has been our practice structure. We limit full-contact hitting during the week, which keeps players fresh and healthy for Friday nights. To me, success beyond the scoreboard means a team that sticks together, stays healthy, and finishes what it starts.
04 Developing Young Men Beyond Football
What is the most important lesson you hope players take away from your program? How does football help prepare them for challenges in school, at home, in their communities, and throughout life?
The most important lesson I want our players to take with them is this: in life, things get hard. When they do, you can roll over and let life win, or you can fight for every inch, push back, and keep going. Football teaches that every day, through tough practices, close games, and setbacks. Those same moments will come in the classroom, at home, at work, and in their communities. I want our players to leave knowing how to respond: never give up, and finish what you start.
05 Players Who Have Made a Lasting Impact
Are there former players or teams whose accomplishments or personal growth stand out? Consider athletes who advanced to higher levels, overcame adversity, became leaders, or succeeded beyond football.
Two players from my time in Illinois stand out. Mike Cuzzone was the quarterback on our 2001 state championship team at Downers Grove South. He was a true role model and one of the easiest kids I’ve ever coached. He did everything for his school and even showed up to our linemen’s dinners just to let those guys know he cared about them. Today he works for USA Football’s national office. Shaun Afryl played for me at Niles West. He came from nothing; our head coach had to give him cleats so he could play. He became a three-year starter, outworked everyone, and earned a full scholarship to the University of Illinois under Ron Zook. Going into his senior season, Shaun passed away from sudden cardiac arrest after a voluntary workout. His work ethic and what he overcame still inspire me every day.
06 The 2027 Senior Class
What makes this year’s senior class special, and how have these young men contributed to your program? What will you remember most about their leadership and character?
This senior class came into a program that had lost 36 straight games over five years. They won a game in each of their first two seasons and kept showing up when it would have been easy to walk away. Over the last two seasons, we’ve won six games together. These young men bought in when there wasn’t much to buy into, and they’ve helped change what it means to play football at Marco Island Academy. What I’ll remember most is their toughness and loyalty. They stuck with it through the hardest stretch in program history and left it better than they found it.
07 Spotlighting Your Senior Showcase Athletes
Which seniors are you excited to see represent your school, and what should coaches, scouts, and fans know about them? Include names, positions, and distinguishing qualities.
Carter Good, QB: The heart and soul of our program. Carter was on pace to challenge school records this season before a rib injury cost him a few games. He’s a great kid and a leader in every sense.
Bryce Becker, two-way lineman: Bryce did everything for us on both sides of the ball. He’s a Division III/NAIA-level player who will make a lot of coaches happy at the next level.
Zac Massie, K/P: Zac has the leg to kick at the Division I level but hasn’t had the opportunity to show it at camps. The Showcase is exactly the stage he deserves.
08 Bringing Out the Best in Every Athlete
How do you motivate, challenge, and connect with different players to help them reach their potential? Is there a coaching philosophy, routine, or approach that guides you?
Our mottos are simple: “Hit Hard” and “Be the Hammer, Not the Nail.” I want our players to be the ones setting the tone, not the ones reacting to it. My message to every athlete is the same: if you give 100%, everything will be okay, even if you do it the wrong way. Effort is something we can always build on, and mistakes made at full speed can be coached. Every kid is different. Some need a push and some need someone to believe in them first. But every one of them needs to know that full effort is the standard, and that I’ll be in their corner when they give it.
09 What Keeps You Coming Back?
What continues to drive your passion for coaching high school football? Is there a moment, relationship, or experience that reminds you why you chose this profession?
It’s the relationships, and seeing what young men can become when someone believes in them. I’ve coached players who won a state title, earned Division I scholarships, and built careers in the game. I know I played a part in helping them reach goals bigger than they once imagined. Today at Marco Island Academy, I see that same opportunity in a group of kids who refused to quit on a program that had every reason to give up. Watching them fight and grow, and finish what they started, reminds me why I chose this. I’ll keep pouring into every new generation that comes through our program.
10 The Value of the Senior Showcase
What does a countywide Senior Showcase mean to your athletes, school, and the Collier County football community? What are you most looking forward to when seniors from across the county compete and represent their schools?
It means a ton. First and foremost, it gives our seniors one last chance to take the field and wear our colors. It also puts our kids on the same field as the best seniors in the area. Our little island gets to stack up against the rest of the county, and I can’t wait to see it. For a small school like ours, that kind of stage and exposure is huge. It’s also a celebration of everything these seniors have given to Collier County football.
Beyond the sideline
Favorite coaching memory
Winning the State title in 2001, Thought it was easy, havent been back since!
Best coaching advice you ever received
Coach the kid, Ignore the parent!
One word that describes your football program
Untapped
Personal motto or favorite motivational quote
Don’t let other people’s perception of you become reality of you