While the East Brunswick football program graduated a number of seniors following the 2023 season, the Bears also were a youthful squad.

Though standout QB Vito Tropeano is gone, along with head coach Andy Steinfeld in a controversial move (technically, a non-move) by the Board of Education, there will be some consistency in the program.

Steinfeld’s “right-hand man” Matt Pazinko was elevated from Offensive Coordinator to Interim Head Coach – after being approved by the BOE the same day it passed on voting on Steinfeld, and another returning assistant, Zach Gega, will take his place.

In fact, Gega stood in for Pazinko at Big Central Media Day at Kean University in Union this past Thursday, and in word and deed looked relaxed and ready for the season, yet all business at the same time.

The Bears are coming off back-to-back one-win seasons, but are not very far removed from the 2021 campaign in which they were 8-4 a year after the COVID-shortened season. Many teams were impacted by that short year, but the Bears rebounded nicely.

Now, they’ll try and do it again.

Click below to hear from East Brunswick Offensive Coordinator Zach Gega and senior wide receiver/safety Felix Munoz: