UNION COUNTY LOCALSQURCE LOCALSOURCE.COM THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2008 — PAGE 37 Comets are guided by a new mentor this season (Cointinued from Page 36) Hillside will not play on Thanksgiving this year "I really enjoyed working with Marc," Power said. after playing Brearley on the holiday from 2000-2007. "lie did a good job there. I'm proud of the job that Before that, Hillside played Rahway in 1999 and Marc Crisafi and the rest of the staff did at Union." before that Newark Central. Power was a finalist for the Union job that went to JOHN POWER Sheridan, who is a 1993 UHS grad, former Rutgers stand- PLAYING AND COACHING RESUME: out and who was previously an assistant coach at Widener. High school: Played at Governor Livingston in fall •'1 applied, put my hat in the ring and they went in of 1984 and 1985 for head coach Frank Verducci and a different direction," Power said. "I wish all the best assistant coach diet Parlavecchio. Played at Union in to Brian and I know he will do a good job there. 1 hope fall of 1986 and 1987 for head coach Lou Rettino and they get back to the playoffs this year." assistant coach Fred Stengel. Parlavecchio gave Power a chance to coach last Power was a quarterback for Union, with Ed Baf- season after the St. Peter's job fell through. fige the starter in 1986 and Joe Matina in 1987. Both "I played for diet at GL and also coached for him at of those years Union won North 2, Group 4, going 9-2 Passaic Valley," Power said. "He gave me an opportunity in 1986 'and 11-0 in 1987, which was Stengel's "final to come to Elizabeth and it was a great experience. year at Union before he became the head coach at "I've had the great fortune of working for some Bergen Catholic in 1988. really, really good head coaches and coordinators. That "I was really more influenced by coach Verducci has allowed me to grow as a coach and that's all you and Parlavecchio, they were really the guys that I kind can ask for. Those coaches have all done the right of followed after," said Power, who was born in Man- things with their programs." hattan and grew up in Berkeley Heights before trans- Power is the latest in a long line of former Union ferring to Union. "They were the guys I looked up to File photo players to move up to the ranks of a high school head as far as football went. Hillside will play at Cranford Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. at coach. He is now one of three former Farmer players that "Lou Rettino was a high integrity individual. He Memorial Field in a Mountain Valley Conference- are presently head coaches in Union County, including was, obviously, a great football coach and the way he Mountain Division clash. This could be the last Brian Sheridan at Union and Gary Mobley at Rahway. ran his program - he did everything the right way. It season of the present MVC setup, with a super Other former Union players that are head coaches was a class organization. conference formation to be voted on soon. in North Jersey include Bill Tracy at Livingston and "Coming from GL, I was lucky to have played for Cosmo Lorusso at Roxbury. outstanding coaches there. Then I get to Union as a "The last couple of years 1 felt it was time for me junior and at that time Union football was like Don to take the next challenge," Power said, as far as Bosco Prep football is now. Union was New Jersey MVC football has becoming a head coach for the first time. "When 1 football at that time. heard the Hillside job was open I immediately put in "There were other great teams, but Lou was the for it. Hillside has a great tradition over the years king and he did an absolutely outstanding job not only and I've always heard good things about the com- for Union but also for New Jersey football." different games munity of Hillside, the kids and its desire to put a Pre-college: Power attended Fork Union Military- By JR Parachini good football program out there. Academy in Virginia (Heisman Trophy winners Vin- Sports Editor "I applied, went through the process, was offered the job nie Testaverde and Eddie George starred there before The Mountain Valley Conference will consists of 11 teams for the and readily accepted. 1 appreciated the fact that the Hillside excelling at Miami and Ohio State) for two years. He upcoming 2008 high school football season, with six in the Mountain Board of Education embraced me and took me in." lettered at quarterback in 1988 and 1989. "I was a late Division and five in the Valley Division. A Jersey City resident the past three years, bloomer and started there at quarterback," Power said. The MVC alignment for the 2008 football season is: Power teaches 7th and 8th grade special education College: He then went on to play at the University Mountain Division (6) - Hillside, Johnson, Cranford, Rahway, Gov- at PS No. 23 in Jersey City." of Georgia from 1990-1993 for head coach Ray Goff, ernor Livingston, Newark Central. His players are lifting and running now and he who took over after Vince Dooley became the athletic Defending champion: Rahway. will take some of them to compete in West Orange's director. The two years Power played at Fork Union did Valley Division (5) - Breariey, New Providence, Roselle Park, 7-on-7 summer league that commenced yesterday not deprive him of four seasons of eligibility at Georgia. Dayton, Roselle. and runs on Wednesdays for the month of July. Coaching: Power was a graduate assistant at Georgia Defending champion: New Providence. "It's good experience for the kids where they play in 1994 and 1995 before coming back to New Jersey and The last Mountain Division team to win a sectional title was Johnson three games a night," Power said. spending one season on the staff at Passaic Valley in 1996. in 2002 when the Crusaders captured North 2, Group 2. "The kids have done an outstanding job so far. Jim That Hornets team reached the North 1, Group 3 final at The last Valley Division team to win a sectional crown was Brearley (Hopke) stayed in the weight room and kept the kids Giants Stadium, falling to No. 1 in the state Hoboken. in 2006 when the Bears won North 2, Group 1. working prior to a coach being hired. Since 1 was hired In 1997, 1998 and 1999 Power was in private busi- Last year was only the second year since 1975 and first year since the kids have done everything asked of them." ness, working with his father in advertising. When his 2001 that not one Union County team reached a sectional final. After coaching for Watchung Conference schools - father sold his business he helped out the quarterbacks The NJSIAA's reclassification for football was still being worked on in addition to other high school stints at Hudson as an assistant coach at Hudson Catholic. as of press time. Catholic and Passaic Valk-y. Power is getting familiar HILLSIDE COACHING STAFF For general classification, Cranford moved from North 2, Group 3 to with the scope of the Mountain Valley Conference. His AT THE MOMENT Central Jersey, Group 2, while Roselle Park moved down to Central Jersey, Comets are one of six teams in the Mountain Division. Head coach: John Power Group 1 from Central Jersey, Group 2. "The MVC is a different level, but high calibre for Linebackers and wide receivers: Roger Wingate. All 11 teams have interesting non-conference matchups this year. a small-school conference," Power said. "It's a rough Wingate is a 1995 Hillside graduate who played in Here's a look at the ones scheduled so far: and tumble conference, with teams in the mix every the 1995 North-South All-Star Game at Rutgers and • year for the playoffs." then starred at Rutguers. Wingate was also an assistant MOUNTAIN DIVISION NOTES: Hillside's game scrimmage is Sept. 5 at coach at Hillside and Union. Hillside: Passaic, at Robbinsville, at Iselin Kennedy. 6 p.m. at Pequannock. Hillside will play the first nine "Roger will have a heavy role with the defense," Power Johnson: Hackettstown, vs. Iselin Kennedy at Woodbridge. weekends, opening Week Zero at home vs. Passaic, a said. "He's an outstanding role model for kids." Cranford: DePaul, St. Joseph's of the Palisades. team it lost to the last two years, including by forfeit after Defensive coordinator and offensive line: John Conroy. Rahway: Bishop Ahr, at Iselin Kennedy, atNorth Plainfield, Somerville. beating Passaic on the field in 2006. This will be the Conroy coached at Union the same time Power and Gov, Livingston: Iselin Kennedy, at Bishop Ahr, at North Plainfield. third straight season the Comets open against Passaic. Wingate did under Crisafi, Newark Central: Manville. With the new NJSIAA ^classification to he ironed Offensive and defensive lines: Eric Allen. • out, it appears that this will be the fourth consecutive Allen coached at Hillside under Hopke, including last year. VALLEY DIVISION year that Hillside is situated in Central Jersey, Group 2 Assistant: John Zappulla. Brearley: Pennington, Dunellen, at Highland Park. for football. The last time Hillside posted a winning Zappulla has coached at Hillside the longest and will con- New Providence: Butler, Cardinal McCarrick. season and qualified for the state playoffs was both in tinue to be a valuable mentor on Power's stall' Roselle Park: at Metuchen, at Middlesex, Sussex Tech, at Bernards. 2003. The Comets finished 6-4 that season after win- "It's coming together real well, with a couple of other guys Dayton: at Manville, at Cardinal McCarrick, at Bound Brook. ning at Brearley IS-12 on Thanksgiving. Hillside, yet to be named," Power said. Roselle: Bound Brook, Kearny. seeded eighth, lost at top-seeded Summit 27-7 in a first • More of Power s coaching resume can he read on • As of press time, Brearley and Dayton were still looking for a ninth round North 2, Group 2 contest at Tatlock Field. JR's Sports Blog at www.localsonrce.com. opponent.