This year’s Columbus Day Parade was set to be led by the celebrated football icon, who took the opportunity to honor his “Italian heritage” on Monday, despite the event being canceled for the first time in 81 years due to inclement weather.
“No matter the weather, I carry immense pride in my Italian roots and in my hometown, New York City,” Joe Moglia, the intended grand marshal of the parade, remarked, determined not to let the gloomy skies dampen his spirits.
“While the parade didn’t take place, everything from the Gala to today’s wonderful mass led by Cardinal Dolan will be cherished highlights for me,” he shared in a post on X.
Moglia, at 76 years old, expressed to The Post that the invitation to lead the annual procession down Fifth Avenue was an experience that surpassed even the peaks of his coaching career.
The excitement brought back memories of when he was offered the head coach position at Coastal Carolina University two decades ago.
“I was taken completely by surprise! Being named Grand Marshal of the Columbus Day Parade truly stands as the greatest honor I have ever received,” he said, acknowledging the “overwhelming” recognition of leading the 81st annual event.
“I am filled with gratitude.”
The Columbus Citizens Foundation selected Moglia last month in recognition of his exemplary success as CEO and Chairman of TD Ameritrade— a post he left after several successful decades to return to his first love, coaching football.
Moglia walked away from the glitz of Wall Street to start at the grassroots level in football, quickly progressing through the ranks to become the head coach of Coastal Carolina University’s Division 1 team, leading the Chanticleers to three consecutive Big South championships.
However, before becoming the iconic figure in football and a Wall Street success, Moglia grew up in Inwood as a determined young boy, with his parents struggling to provide for their family.
His father, who hailed from Italy, and his mother, an immigrant from Ireland, had limited education and were raising five children in a cramped two-bedroom apartment on Dyckman Street.
“That was a rough neighborhood back then — and I was involved with a gang,” recalled Moglia, remembering that he was stealing and drinking with friends from the age of 10.
This rough upbringing led to tragic outcomes for two of Moglia’s childhood friends, one who died from an overdose and another shot during a botched liquor store robbery.
“If I hadn’t been focusing on football at Fordham Prep… there’s no doubt I would have been with them. That was quite an eye-opener,” Moglia reflected, referring to the Bronx Catholic high school he attended and would later coach.
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This native New Yorker dedicated himself to football and academics, carving out a path that led him to become the grand marshal of the largest Italian celebration parade in the United States— which was ultimately canceled due to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s state of emergency order and the severe weather causing exceptional rainfall across the tri-state area.
The Columbus Citizens Foundation announced the parade cancellation late Sunday, just over twelve hours before the parade was set to commence.
Dozens of players from Moglia’s extensive career, including those he coached at Fordham Prep in the 1960s, would have been by the sidelines along Fifth Avenue, cheering for their mentor as he led the parade.
At just 22, Moglia began coaching at Archmere Academy, making history as the youngest coach in the state, and a decade later, realized his dream by becoming the defensive coordinator at Dartmouth College.
However, the compensation was inadequate for supporting his four children, compelling Moglia to change careers at age 34 in search of better financial prospects.
<pUtilizing his Fordham economics degree, Moglia entered the world of finance at Merrill Lynch, where he dedicated 17 years before taking on the role of CEO at TD Ameritrade in 2001, a position he held for seven years.
Nonetheless, football remained at the core of Moglia’s passion, and he returned to coaching in 2008, initially accepting an unpaid position at Nebraska, then becoming the head coach of the Omaha Nighthawks in the United Football League, before establishing his renowned career at Coastal Carolina.
His remarkable journey has led to numerous Hall of Fame inductions and accolades, though Moglia emphasizes that the friendships and relationships he built over the years are his most significant accomplishments.
“To me, that’s what matters. Ultimately, leadership is not measured by individual achievements; it’s about the people you serve,” he stated.
