Hillsborough High School athletics program has been a dominant program throughout the state of New Jersey for years.  In charge of our athletics program, is athletic director Michael Fanizzi, the man who continues to strive for excellence.

Including this school year, Fanizzi has been the athletic director at HHS for 13 years.  In recognition for all of his dedication and hard work, Fanizzi was recently awarded the prestigious Directors of Athletics Association of New Jersey Sectional Award of Merit.

Not many know the true amount of work that Fanizzi contributes to both our school’s athletic program and  to athletics across the state. Fanizzi is involved in many committees on the state level, as well as contributing his leadership and skills to our county and conference levels.  His leadership, organization, and decision making skills has put him a step above the average athletic director in New Jersey.

In the daily life of being our school’s athletic director, Fanizzi is in constant contact with his coaches and secretaries to make sure that all events commence successfully.  During all sports seasons, Fanizzi is constantly checking fields and courts to ensure that playing conditions are well kept, safe, and polished.

Being Hillsborough High School’s athletic director, Fanizzi has endless jobs and obstacles he must address on a daily basis.  Working with 1,100-1,200 athletes every year is no small challenge, but Fanizzi assists each athlete with anything he or she may need to continue to be successful.

Only four athletic directors in the state of New Jersey are awarded the annual merit award, yet Fanizzi remains modest about his accomplishments.

“I’m very humbled by this,” Fanizzi said.  “I work hard for the students of HHS, so it’s very nice to see that my peers recognize this.”

Not only is Fanizzi one of only four athletic directors to receive this title for 2015, but he is also automatically put in the drawing to be in the Hall of Fame for Athletic Directors in New Jersey.  Fanizzi will not be eligible for the Hall of Fame until he is retired and hopefully this will not be anytime soon.

In the mean time, a scholarship in Fanizzi’s name will come to a well-deserving senior athlete at the end of this school year. It is yet to be determined which senior athlete will receive this scholarship; however, Fanizzi and his staff are excited to start the process to see who will be granted this distinction.

Fanizzi will receive the merit award in Atlantic City in March of next year, at the Athletic Directors’ Convention in front of his peers, family, and colleagues.

“I love my athletes and I love my staff,” Fanizzi said. “This is what I wanted to do in life.”