NEW JERSEY SCHOLASTIC COACHES ASSOCIATION in cooperation with the NEW JERSEY STATE INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION 2020 COACHES VIRTUAL HALL OF FAME PROGRAM January 10, 2021 26th ANNUAL NJSCA HALL OF FAME LUNCHEON Master of Ceremonies/ Introduction of Bill Bruno, Chairperson, HOF Committee NJSCA Class of 2020 HOF Honorees/ NJSIAA Assistant Director Welcome Pledge of Allegiance Kevin Carty, Jr., NJSCA Chairperson National Anthem Chelsea Nodeland Invocation Bev Torok, Past NJSCA Chairperson Introductions – Bill Bruno HOF Committee / NJSIAA Staff Sponsors Acknowledgment 2020 NJSCA Hall of Fame Honorees Bill Bruno Induction Ceremony Kevin Carty, Jr. Tom Imparato, NFCA State Director Maria Nolan, NFCA Past President Tony Palombo, Past NJSCA Chairperson Beverly Torok Daniel Uszaki, NJSCA HOF Committee Order of induction: Group 1 - Douglas Loucks, Mike Michels, Dennis Murri, Joe Ricciardelli Group 2 - Del Dal Pra, Chris Olsen, Susan Rogers Group 3 - Mark Dixon, Daniel Evans, Adam Fern, Harry Lake, Fred L. Rucker Group 4 - Ron Anello, Darnell Grant, Harry McLaughlin, Zoran Milich, Michael Schmeltz Group 5 - MariaElena Bellinger, Anthony LaRezza, Jim Fiorello, Roger Cummings, Les Heggan Group 6 - Sandra Baranowski, Ed Garrison, Nancy Cuntala, Greg Kulig Stanley Piela Group 7 - Ed Breheney, Ben Candelino, Fred Cole, Robert DeCarlo Jr., Frank Dekmar Closing Bill Bruno SPECIAL THANKS Special thanks to Mike O’Brien and Bill McDermott from Wilson Sporting Goods and the New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association for their generous donations to this annual Hall of Fame Induction program. The committee also wishes to remember Abner West, Anthony Cotoia, Michele Miller, and Bob Sterling for their service and contributions to NJICA and NJSCA. HALL OF FAME HISTORY In 1961, the New Jersey Interscholastic Coaches Association honored all football coaches with undefeated seasons. In 1964, the NJICA honored coaches of all sports, past or present, who had been nominated from their county by their peers. Then in 1983, the honor award program was renamed as the NJICA “Hall of Fame” and included all past honorees. In 1995, the New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association assumed the sponsorship of the Hall of Fame, for all head varsity coaches in the public and non-public NJSIAA member schools. When you consider that there are 434 public, non-public and independent secondary schools in New Jersey for the 2020- 2021 school year, sponsoring approximately 7,500 varsity teams, requiring that number of head coaches – then it has to be a distinct honor to have been selected by your peers for membership in the New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association “Hall of Fame.” “Reputation is what you’re perceived to be. Character is what you really are.” – John Wooden, College Basketball Coach NJSCA BOARD OF GOVERNORS ____________________________________________________ Kevin Carty, Jr., Chairperson – Hillsborough H.S. Tom Imparato, NJSCA Past Chairperson and NFCA State Director – Dumont H.S. ____________________________________________________ Tom Armour, NJSCA Past Chairperson – Eastern HS Joan Frankenfield, NJSCA Past Chairperson – Haddon Twp. HS Dianne Furusawa, NJSCA Past Chairperson – River Dell Regional HS Joyce Jones, NJSCA Past Chairperson – Princeton HS Bruce Kafer, NJSCA Past Chairperson – Somerville HS Jerry Klimek, NJSCA Past Chairperson – Toms River North HS John Nicolaysen, NJSCA Past Chairperson – Bergenfield HS Maria Nolan, NFCA Past President - Immaculate Heart Academy Tony Palombo, NJSCA Past Chairperson – J.F. Kennedy HS, Iselin Beverly Torok, NJSCA Past Chairperson – Westfield HS NEW JERSEY SCHOLASTIC COACHES ASSOCIATION It took many years of planning, but the New Jersey Scholastic Coaches came into existence and began accepting new members as of September 1, 1994. The new Association owes much of its heritage to the Executive Committee of the NJICA, headed by Abner West, including Jay Dakelman, Dom Cuccinello, and Bob Sterling as a means of perpetuating the finest ideals in coaching. Our goal is to expand these ideals to reach all coaches in the State. It is also our aim to continue the fine ideals of the NJICA, which included the Hall of Fame, and its awards. ________________________________________________________________ Members of the NJSCA State Board of Coaches include: Dave Csillian Ewing HS Athletic Trainer DJ Gore Highland Regional HS Baseball Gene Darling Northern Burlington HS Boys Basketball John Senft Highland Regional HS Girls Basketball John Canova JP Stevens B/G Bowling Maria Crowley Red Bank Regional HS Boys XC/Track Rich Refi Hillsborough HS Girls XC/Track Katie Kalinowski Northern Burlington HS Field Hockey Kevin Carty, Jr. Hillsborough HS Football Dorine Shapiro Manalapan HS Gymnastics Tom McCloskey Sayreville HS Golf James “Chip” Bruce Brick Memorial HS Ice Hockey Brent Middlemiss Brick Memorial HS Boys Lacrosse Joyce Jones Princeton HS Girls Lacrosse Nick Cifelli Sayreville HS Boys Soccer Susan Polonsky Bergen County Tech HS Girls Soccer Mike Scerbo North Bergen HS Boys Swimming Doreen Gualtieri Dickinson HS Girls Swimming Patricia Oullette Middletown High Schools B/G Tennis Andrew Hopman Old Bridge HS Boys Volleyball Beverly Torok Westfield HS Girls Volleyball Our thanks to all the present Hall of Fame committee members for their dedicated service and to the NJSIAA officials for their continued support. ________________________________________________________________ “A good coach will make his players see what they can be rather than what they are.” - Ara Parseghian, College Football Coach NJSCA Hall of Fame CLASS OF 2020 RON ANELLO West Essex HS / Clifton HS Football Coach – 17 Years Career Record: 93-72 • 1 NJSIAA Group IV State Sectional Title • 2 NNJL Championships • 1 Iron Hills Conference Title • Various Coaches of the Year Honors SANDRA BARANOWSKI Bridgewater-Raritan HS Softball Coach – 22 Years Career Record: 319–292 • 1 NJSIAA North Jersey Section 2 Group Championship • 1 Skyland Conference Title • 3 Somerset County Championships MARIA ELENA BELLINGER Paramus HS Volleyball Coach – 19 Years Career Record: 387–118 • 1 NJSIAA Tournament of Champions Title • 1 NJSIAA State Group 3 Title • 1 NJSIAA Group 3 Sectional Title • 1 Bergen County Title • 12 League Championships ED BREHENEY North Brunswick HS Boys Basketball Coach – 31 Years Golf Coach – 27 Years Career Records: 411-322 (Basketball) 258– 238 (Golf) • Basketball: 3 NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 3 Finalist • 4X Winner of the Greater Middlesex County Divisional Championships • 1 County Championship • Golf: 1 NJSIAA Group 3 Title • 2X NJSIAA CJ Group 3 Sectional Championships • 7 Greater Middlesex County Divisional Championships • 2 Greater Middlesex County Championships • Numerous Coach of the Year Honors BEN CANDELINO Saint Mary’s of Assumption HS / Elizabeth HS Baseball Coach – 7 Yrs / Basketball Coach – 20 Yrs Career Record: 348–46 • 1 NJSIAA Tournament of Championship Basketball Title • 5 NJSIAA State Championships • 9 NJSIAA Group IV Section 2 State Championships • 10 Union County Championships • 7 Watchung Conference Titles • 12X Coach of the Year Honors • Member of the Union County & Elizabeth HS Hall of Fames FRED COLE Madison Central HS / Old Bridge HS Baseball Coach – 21 Years Career Record: 270-210 • 1 NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 4 Title • 1 Greater Middlesex County Title • 2 Divisional Championships • Member of the Union County and New Jersey Coaches Baseball Hall of Fames ROGER BRUCE CUMMINGS Ramapo HS Fencing Coach – 21 Years • 5X NJSIAA State Championships • 3X Santelli Titles • 4X District Championships • 2X District Foil Titles • 1 NJSIAA Foil Champion • 1 District Sabre Champion • Voted by the Star Ledger as one of the BEST Women’s Coach of the Century NANCY CUNTALA John F. Kennedy Memorial HS Softball Coach – 23 Years Career Record: 349-212-1 • 1 NJSIAA State Group 3 Final • 2X NJSIAA North 2 Sectional Titles • 4 Divisional Championships • 2X Middlesex County Tournament Titles • 3X Middlesex Athletic conference Championships • 6X Coach of the Year Honors • Member of the Woodbridge Twp. Athletic Alumni Association Hall of Fame DEL DAL PRA Henry Hudson HS / Ocean Township HS / Red Bank Regional HS Baseball Coach – 14 Years Career Record: 221-103 • 1 Central Jersey Group I Final • 2X Central Jersey Group III Championships • 4X Divisional Championships • 2X Monmouth County Tournament Championships • 2X Shore Conference Championships • 3X Coach of the Year Honors ROBERT DECARLO JR. Don Bosco Prep / Mount St. Dominic Academy Spring & Winter Track & Field Coach – 37 Seasons • 4X Non-Public A NJSIAA Spring Track Champions • 1 Non-Public A NJSIAA Winter Track Championship • National Scholastic Indoor National Champions in the 4 X 800 Relay • National Scholastic Indoor National Runner up in the 4 X 1 Mile Relay • Nike Outdoor National Champions in the Sprint Medley Relay • 4X Coach of the Year • 2X Program of the Decade (2000-2009) FRANK DEKMAR Roxbury HS Girls Basketball Coach – 17 Years Career Record: 239 wins • 2X NJSIAA State Sectional Appearances • 2X Morris County Final Appearances • 2X Iron Hills Conference Championships • Multiple Coach of the Year Recognitions • 2017 Roxbury HS Hall of Fame MARK DIXON West Deptford HS Track & Field Coach – 23 Years Career Record: 183-57-2 • 1 NJSIAA Group II Championship • 4X Colonial Conference Champion1ships • 2X Coach of the Year Honors DANIEL JON EVANS, M.ED., ATC Haverford College / Woodstown HS Athletic Trainer – 28 Years • College/University Chair for the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers Society • Southern