UNION COUNTY LOCALSOURCE LOCALSOURCE.COM THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2011 — PAGE 27 Football player makes his family, town proud (Continued from Page 26) "It was a great day for Linden athletics and an out- "On defense he was a great run-stopper. He was really standing day for Muhammad and his family," McDon- good against the run and had a nose for the football." ald said. "With five players moving on to the NFL, Present Linden head football coach Deon Candia, we've been blessed." who was an assistant coach on McDonald's staff when Wilkerson played - coaching the defensive backs and HERE'S A LOOK AT LINDEN PLAYERS wide receivers - remembers how Wilkerson improved THAT WENT ON TO PLAY IN THE NFL a great deal leading up to his senior season. GOING BACK TO THE EARLY 1980S: "The early years were kind of a blur because he was a basketball kid," Candia said. "He came on as a senior Troy Stradford, Linden class of 1982, and his work ethic and mentality was like night and day. -wide receiver Rich Morris "He gained more attitude his senior season and saw Boston College: 1982-1984, 1986 Seton Hall Prep junior Zach Pallis of Springfield shot how dominant he could be. Selected in 4th round of 1987 NFL Draft a 66 to win last week's Essex County golf title at "He gained more confidence and took his game up (99th overall) Hendricks Course in Belleville. to another level." by the . Candia, a 1991 Linden graduate who also played Miami Dolphins: 1987-1990 for McDonald, saw Wilkerson's physical development : 1991 up close as well. : 1992. : 1992. Springfield's "When he came home and spent time in the weight room you could tell he was on another level when he Craig Taylor, Linden class of 1984, running back went to Temple," Candia said. "Mentally and physi- West Virginia: 1984-1988 stars on golf course cally he became a monster. Selected in 6th round of 1989 NFL Draft "He stood out because he was tall and had a super (166th overall) Fires 66 to win Essex title long wingspan. He always played to his strength. He by the Cincinnati Bengals. By JR Parachini was a smart kid on the field, someone with a good Cincinnati Bengals: 1989-1991 Sports Editor football IQ. He worked hard." Golfers, like athletes in any other sport, search for consistency. Other Linden football players before Wilkerson to Michael Pringley, Linden class of 1994, If they feel they can achieve that, then there's always an opportunity to make it to the NFL in the past 30 years include Troy defensive end succeed. If greatness should follow, so be it. Stradford, assistant coach Craig Taylor, Michael North Carolina: 1994-1998 Seton Hall Prep junior and Springfield resident Zach Pallis was Pringley and Roger Chanoine, who also starred at Selected in 7th round of 1999 NFL Draft both consistent and great on the golf course Wednesday when he Temple. (215th overall) shot a 4-under-par 66 to capture the Essex County championship at "Our players now don't really have a connection by the Detroit Lions. Hendricks Golf Course in Belleville. with some of the others because they played before Detroit Lions: 1999 According to SHP Coach Kevin Williams, Pallis shot a 33 on the front their time," Candia said. "But they all remember San Diego Chargers: 2000, 2001 nine and then another 33 on the back. Par at Hendricks is 70. Muhammad. "This was his best round," said Williams, who has been the golf coach "You can tell the kids to stay focused, but there's Roger Chanoine, Linden class of 1994, at SHP since 2000 and was just recently named as the new boys' basketball nothing like them seeing a kid get drafted in front of offensive tackle coach. "This was the first tournament where he played 18 holes." the world," Candia said. Temple: 1994-1998 Williams said that Pallis finished with seven birdies, three bogies had "There's not a better role model than Muhammad Signed by St. Louis Rams as undrafted had only 25 putts for the 18 holes. The field consisted of nearly 100 golfers. Wilkerson, being the kid that he is, the gentleman that rookie in 1999. "His 66 was the best score for a Seton Hall Prep golfer since I've been he is," Colicchio said. "It was amazing to watch him Cleveland Browns: 1999-2002 the coach," Williams said. "Basically, Zach's a golf junkie. He's all about grow up. Jacksonville Jaguars: 2003 golf right now." "What he accomplished was also a credit to the Pallis was on SHP's golf team as a freshman, but didn't play much. He coaching he had. Bucky did a great job of making him Muhammad Wilkerson, Linden class of 2007, started for the first time as a sophomore. a better football player and Donofrio accentuated it. defensive tackle "All his practice and lessons are paying off," Williams said. Muhammad was lucky to have good coaching along Hargrave Military Academy: 2007 This was the first time the Essex County championship was competed the way. Bucky saw something in him at a young age. Temple: 2008-2010 at Hendricks after previously being held at Francis Byrne in West Orange. "Of course you have to have God given ability, but Selected in 1st round of 2011 NFL Draft Weequahic in Newark is the county's other county course. he's an example for all the kids in Linden to know that (30th overall) by the New York Jets. "It was previously at Francis Byrne and it may be at Weequahic in the if you work hard, you can reach certain places." New York Jets: 2011 future, perhaps on a rotating basis," Williams said. DiGiovanni steps down as UHS basketball coach By JR Parachini He was then the head coach at New Brunswick for the NOTES: At least two teams now that compete in the Sports Editor 2004-05, 2005-06 seasons before taking over at Union the Watchung Division of the Union County Conference will One of the most respected and hardest working boys' following year. have different head coaches next season. basketball coaches in the entire state has decided to A US history and economics teacher at UHS, DiGiovanni Chris Chevannes took over for Kevin Boyle at St. Patrick step down. guided Union to four straight winning seasons after an 8-15 after Boyle left to coach a prep school in central Florida. Tony DiGiovanni, who has been the coach at Union the campaign his first year at the helm. He led the 2008 and 2010 Boyle, a 1981 Johnson Regional graduate who past five years, resigned April 27 so that he could spend more teams to the North 2, Group 4 semifinals and the 2008 squad helped lead the Crusaders to the 1981 Union County time with his family. to the Union County Tournament semis. Tournament championship, coached the Celtics for "At this point in time it's the right thing to do," said His five-year record at Union was 77-52 (.597). The more than 20 years. DiGiovanni, 34, who became the head coach at his high 2007-08 team went 21-7. He guided St. Patrick to the last 19 UCT championship school alma mater beginning with the 2006-07 season. Star players for DiGiovanni that went on to college games, winning 14 of them. "We're expecting our second child in early September. I want included Dion Nesmith (Monmouth), Travis Taylor His 2006-07 squad lost just two games, including the to be able to spend time with my wife and children." (Monmouth) and Jon Merceus (Pace). UCT final to Linden, but won the Parochial B state DiGiovanni submitted his letter of resignation on April 27. "The kids at Union have been great and have done champoinship and then the Tournament of Champions "I talked to the boys and their parents at a team dinner everything I've asked them to do," DiGiovanni said. and finished No. 2 in the country in the USA Today. Thursday night," DiGiovanni said. "I'm looking forward to "The kids in Union love to play basketball and are really Another big coaching change in the north was Roselle the time 1 will have with my family. 1 felt it was the right good kids. Catholic graduate Bob Farrell stepping down at Seton thing for me to do." "They're fun to be around and they want to learn. We Hall Prep. DiGiovanni, a 1995 UHS graduate who went on to play were able to have some winning seasons and get some kids His top assistant, Kevin Williams, took over as his football at Colgate, first coached under Bob Hurley at St. into college. Overall, it was a great experience. successor. Anthony for five years before becoming a head coach for the "1 want to spend time with my family and enjoy what we Farrell retired as the third-winningest coach in state first time in 2003-04 at Piscataway. have right now." history. His First year at SHP was 1977-78.