Being described as a “pillar in our community” is an earned title. Terence Dee will humbly tell you he wanted to take the Sachem Sports Club to the next level “for the kids.” He did much more.
After nearly a decade at the helm of one of Long Island’s largest youth sports organizations, Dee not only evolved SSC but also established the standard for operational efficiency in the eyes of the community. In May, he announced he would be stepping away as President of SSC and passing the torch to Ed Herdina. Dee will remain on the board as second vice president to help transition leadership.
“What makes the program great is the dedication of all the coaches and program directors that spend countless hours worried about other people’s children,” Dee wrote on Facebook. “It’s personal; they strive for perfection, and because of that, our kids are for the better.”
Among SSC’s many advancements was creating a flourishing flag football program that continues to be an incubator of interest in football for hundreds of Sachem kids. Dee and his board also expanded cheer, launched girl’s flag football, expanded girl’s lacrosse, and brought back tackle football from the brink of extinction.
“It wasn’t always easy,” he said, “it wasn’t always fun, but it was always worth it.”
Dee has forged a close relationship with the Sachem varsity programs to use the youth organization as a proper feeder system for the gridiron greats of tomorrow. Sachem North football has continued to show increased success over the last few years, including an appearance in the 2023 Division I Suffolk County championship, its first time in the big game in 10 years.
“Terence Dee has been a pillar in our community for the last decade,” said Sachem North football coach David Caputo. “As a community, we can never repay him for the opportunities he created for thousands of Sachem kids at the sacrifice of his own gain and family.”
Caputo said he still enjoys discussing strategic ways to improve Sachem football with Dee.
“He always believed that his job was to recruit as many Sachem kids to the sport and then let the high school coaches take over when the kids aged out,” Caputo said. “The relationship worked seamlessly, and he became a trusted friend in the process.”
Caputo also complimented Dee’s constant presence at the Suffolk County PAL Complex in Holtsville.
“He spent every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in the fall at the fields and demanded that our community be represented in a first-class manner,” he said.
Herdina takes over with constant headwinds facing tackle football and other societal issues that weigh down community sports and youth development.
“We consider the work we do at the club a calling,” said Herdina. “It’s often long hours, hard work, thankless at times, and a totally volunteer position. To think he just completed his 9th year building and leading the Sachem Sports Club is just amazing. I am truly honored that out of all the people in this organization, Terence placed his trust and its future into my hands. I’ll do my best not to fumble the proverbial football.”
Dee will continue to be involved with Sachem football as his own children go through the program at Sachem North. As he watches the latest crop of varsity players, who continue to help Sachem rank as one of the top programs in the county, he should know his stamp has been placed on their growth and exposure.
“The SSC is so much bigger than me,” he said. “I am proud of what we all collectively accomplished over the years. Sachem is a special place, and so is the SSC.”