Huntington Highlights; Jake Torres Enjoys First Year Teaching & Coaching in Huntington

Jake Torres has enjoyed a great first year as a probationary physical education teacher at Huntington High School. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education from Towson University and a graduate degree in health education from SUNY Brockport.

“In my first year at Huntington High School, I had the opportunity to teach the Team Sports elective offered by our Physical Education Department,” Mr. Torres said. “Entering the school year, my goal was to connect with my students and create an inclusive and engaging environment. An ongoing goal is to win every day. To me, a ‘win’ is a student saying hello in the hallway, having a conversation about a student’s weekend and learning something new about them, or hearing a student say, ‘That was actually fun,’ at the end of class. This year, every day was not perfect, but I won every day. I had a great opportunity to learn about my students and understand the best ways for them to succeed in the classroom.”

Mr. Torres helped advanced department initiatives and provided substantial support to athletic department priorities seven days a week. He filled in for missing coaches, volunteered hundreds of hours for intramurals in multiple sports and worked hard with his classes.

“The opportunities continued on the court and field,” Mr. Torres said. “This year, I coached varsity girls’ volleyball, Finley Middle School boys’ basketball, and varsity girls’ softball. Leading two high school sports programs was a dream come true. I had a blast every day working with the student athletes of Huntington High School. Whether it was practices, games, fundraisers, the Corey’s Promise Charity Game, the Dig Pink Game, or even painting softball buckets, every day was rewarding.”

Known as a workhorse, Mr. Torres can be seen raking out the varsity softball field at 7 a.m. or a Sunday afternoon preceding a Monday game.

“I am passionate and enthusiastic when it comes to my career,” Mr. Torres said. “I care deeply about the students and colleagues who are part of the programs I am involved in, and I think many students learned that this year. I want the best for every student-athlete I come across because they deserve the opportunity to learn what success feels like, understand what it takes to get there, and appreciate it when they achieve it. Success is not just about winning games. It is about embracing challenges, responding through adversity, working hard, and being a great teammate regardless of the circumstances.”

Mr. Torres is quietly building very strong volleyball and softball programs. Next winter he will be the assistant to new varsity boys’ basketball head coach Michael Ferreira.

“I believe every challenge has a lesson, and every lesson is a step toward growth,” Mr. Torres said. “Challenges happen for you to grow, not to you. This year was not perfect, but it was everything I could have asked for. I met so many amazing students and colleagues during the 2025–2026 school year, and I am excited for the future opportunities ahead in Huntington.”