When playing youth football little kids often look up to those playing for their local high school team and hope one day to do the same. When they get to the high school level many then set their goal to play college football, maybe even getting a scholarship to a big-time program. College players often aspire to be among the chosen few to play for pay in the NFL.

Jordan Orlovsky had his football dreams but they were a bit different and at least on a small scale those dreams have come true. From the time he was playing linebacker at Toms River North (and maybe a bit sooner) the 30-year old set his sights on becoming a college football coach. He knew the path would not be easy and dues would have to be paid and he did so on stops in Miami, Florida, Storrs, Connecticut and Norfolk, Virginia. Orlovsky has landed in New York City as the first-year linebackers coach at Fordham University where he also serves as the prime recruiter of Shore Conference athletes. One of those athletes in Manalapan senior running back Naim Mayfield who made a verbal commitment to Fordham in April following a junior season in which he rushed for 1,785 yards and scored 26 touchdowns.

Orlovsky was involved in the football program at the University of Miami as an undergraduate and was the quality control coach under Randy Shannon in both 2008 and 2009 where he helped develop game plans for the offense and coordinate practice schedules. He earned his degree in business management with a minor in sports administration from Miami and following graduation (and Shannon’s dismissal) it was on to the University of Connecticut where he was director of operations and also helped with the offense in his first year before coaching linebackers and assisting with the secondary. While in Storrs he earned a masters in educational psychology.

As is often the case with assistants when head coaches are replaced it means they move on as well and Orlovsky left UConn for Old Dominion University in 2014 and would spend the next three seasons with the Monarchs. He worked mainly with linebackers and special teams and last season saw ODU go 10-3 including a win over Eastern Michigan in the Bahamas Bowl.

Orlovsky was hired to coach the linebackers at Fordham in February by second-year head coach Andrew Breiner who became head coach when Joe Moorhead left to become the offensive coordinator at Penn State. Breiner’s Rams went 8-3 last season and were 5-1 in the Patriot League…it was the program’s fifth consecutive winning season.

Fordham opened the 2017 season by losing at Army before winning at Central Connecticut State last weekend. The Rams home opener in this Saturday when they host Eastern Washington University at Jack Coffey Field. One thing you can count on is Orlovsky’s parents Dale and Carol will be there…they are his biggest fans and have followed him on his path from Toms River to Bronx, NY.

What’s next for the ex-Mariner? Right now he’s only focused on becoming a better coach/recruiter at Fordham but you can be sure the dream does not end there.

More From Shore Sports Network