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Coaching

Gym Teacher From Bergen County Betsy Groat Left Major Impact On Students Gym Teacher From Bergen County Betsy Groat Left Major Impact On Students
Gym Teacher From Bergen County Betsy Groat Left Major Impact On Students A beloved teacher who was a fixture at a Northern Westchester high school for decades is being remembered for her contagious positive energy and her tremendous impact on her students throughout her long career.   Elizabeth “Betsy” Groat of Ho-Ho-Kus in Bergen County died on Wednesday, Oct. 30 after a battle with cancer, according to her obituary.   Groat, who taught physical education and coached at Westlake High School in Thornwood, dedicated 38 years to inspiring and supporting student-athletes in the Mount Pleasant School District, according to a GoFundMe page created in her honor that i…
Meet Mike Keenan, Stanley Cup Winning Coach With Rangers, In North Jersey Meet Mike Keenan, Stanley Cup Winning Coach With Rangers, In North Jersey
Meet Mike Keenan, Stanley Cup Winning Coach With Rangers, In North Jersey He was the King of New York before becoming its biggest villain. And now the former coach is set to tell all in Bergen County. Mike Keenan, who coached the New York Rangers to a Stanley Cup in 1994, ending the team's 54-year drought, before quitting a month later over a contract dispute, will be signing copies of his new book "Iron Mike: My Life Behind the Bench," on Thursday, Oct. 3 at 6 p.m. Bookends in Ridgewood The book features Keenan discussing his coaching career, from taking the Flyers to the Stanley Cup to two Stanley Cup finals, to his run in Chicago to that famous 1993-1994 seaso…
Boy Killed In Post-Scrimmage NJ Crash With Opposing Coach Identified (UPDATE) Boy Killed In Post-Scrimmage NJ Crash With Opposing Coach Identified (UPDATE)
Boy Killed In Post-Scrimmage NJ Crash With Opposing Coach Identified (Update) Football communities in South Jersey were left reeling following a post-scrimmage crash that left a coach and 9-year-old player dead on Thursday, Sept. 12. A GoFundMe campaign identifies the athlete killed as Easton Beisler, who played for Upper Township.  Vineland police previously said a boy identified only as E.B. was riding in an SUV that collided with motorcyclist Addiel Ortiz, 31, at Maple Avenue near Becker Drive at around 5:53 p.m., Vineland police said. Ortiz was riding a Honda CBR 1000 motorcycle east on Maple when the 2019 Chevrolet Traverse heading…
Grandmother Kills Ex-Daughter-In Law From NJ In Twisted Murder-Suicide: Reports Grandmother Kills Ex-Daughter-In Law From NJ In Twisted Murder-Suicide: Reports
Grandmother Kills Ex-Daughter-In Law From NJ In Twisted Murder-Suicide: Reports A 45-year-old New Jersey native and Westchester County, NY middle school teacher was shot and killed by her ex-husband's 65-year-old mother, who then turned the gun on herself in New York City, multiple news outlets say. Marisa Galloway — who hails from Wildwood, NJ and worked as a special education teacher in Ardsley, NY — was shot and killed by Kathleen Leigh near Gracie Mansion on Friday morning, July 26, NYPD brass said at a news briefing later that day. The NYPD said it happened amid a custody battle between Galloway and her ex-husband, whose mother was identified as Leigh, over their …
Former Moonachie Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Ponds Dies Former Moonachie Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Ponds Dies
Former Moonachie Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Ponds Dies The Montclair Public School District is mourning the loss of its superintendent. A message posted on the district website said only that the district is mourning the passing of Dr. Jonathan Ponds. Ponds was principal to students at the Parsons Elementary School in North Brunswick from 2012 to 2015 and also served as a superintendent and principal in Moonachie. Ponds also had experience working as a special education teacher, basketball coach, vice principal, and dean of students, his bio on the Montclair Schools website said. The district's director of secondary education Damen Coope…
Gregg Berhalter, NJ Native, Fired As Head Coach Of US Men's Soccer Team Gregg Berhalter, NJ Native, Fired As Head Coach Of US Men's Soccer Team
Gregg Berhalter, NJ Native, Fired As Head Coach Of US Men's Soccer Team The search is on for a new head coach of the US Men's National Team. The team flamed out in front of hometown fans and were bounced from the 2024 Copa America in the group stage after losing to Urugay and Panama.  It was the first time the US failed to advance out of the group stage. On Wednesday, July 10, the US Soccer Federation made an unsurprising announcement: The team's head coach, Englewood native Gregg Berhalter, 50, had been "relieved of his duties, effective immediately." The search for a new #USMNT head coach has begun. pic.twitter.com/BFVedpnyfo — U.S. Soccer …
Guy Del Corso, Legendary Passaic County Bodybuilding Coach, Dies: 'Loved By All' Guy Del Corso, Legendary Passaic County Bodybuilding Coach, Dies: 'Loved By All'
Guy Del Corso, Legendary Passaic County Bodybuilding Coach, Dies: 'Loved By All' Guy Del Corso, a bodybuilding coach in Passaic County and former Mr. New Jersey, died on Thursday, Feb. 15, his family announced on Instagram. Del Corso, who lived in Hawthorne, had a stroke last month, his family said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Guy Del Corso (@coffeewithcoach_) "He was loved by all who knew him and will be missed terribly," his family wrote. "Please know he loved each and every one of you." The bodybuilding coach originally developed a fascination with bodybuilding when he was just nine years old, visitin…
Beloved NJ Wrestling Coach Curt Pakutka Dies After Cancer Battle, 55 Beloved NJ Wrestling Coach Curt Pakutka Dies After Cancer Battle, 55
Beloved NJ Wrestling Coach Curt Pakutka Dies After Cancer Battle, 55 A beloved New Jersey high school teacher and coach died after a lengthy battle to esophageal cancer. Curt D. Pakutka, 55, of Mansfield Township, died on June 7, at Hackettstown Medical Center. He was a well-loved physical education and driver's education teacher, as well as occasionally teaching health, at Newton High School in Sussex County. His love for sports followed him when he became a wrestling coach for Jefferson Township in Morris County from 2004-2015 and the head coach for the Newton High School Girls softball team from 2008-2019, according to his obituary. Curt also p…
'Sweet, Selfless, Always Smiling': Beloved North Jersey Educator Michael Carlucci, 57 'Sweet, Selfless, Always Smiling': Beloved North Jersey Educator Michael Carlucci, 57
'Sweet, Selfless, Always Smiling': Beloved North Jersey Educator Michael Carlucci, 57 A celebration of life for career North Jersey educator Michael Carlucci will be live-streamed later this week to what's expected to be an enormous audience. The beloved 57-year-old father of three from Verona had been swimming with his wife, Jeanene, and others on Saturday when he apparently was caught in a rip current generated by Hurricane Earl. His body was recovered after a 45-minute search. Carlucci’s funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.m. this Friday, Sept. 16 at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit (36 Gould Street, Verona), where he was an active parishioner. MAP: Episcopal C…
Players Mourn Sudden Loss Of Beloved NJ Football Coach Brian Meeney, 46 Players Mourn Sudden Loss Of Beloved NJ Football Coach Brian Meeney, 46
Players Mourn Sudden Loss Of Beloved NJ Football Coach Brian Meeney, 46 Take a quick look at the posts from some of Brian Meeney's current and former players and students, and the impact he made becomes obvious. "I can never repay you for everything you taught me," one wrote. "Kept me out of trouble and made sure I stayed on the path of success, I wouldn’t be where I am today if you didn’t push me the way that you did." "You believed in me," said another, "and most importantly you never gave up on me. Coach Meeney I’ll always love you you were that second father-like figure in my life." The Maywood dad suffered a massive heart attack while on his way to work o…
‘Gridiron Icon’: Ramapo HS Football Coach Drew Gibbs, 59, Dies After Emergency Surgery ‘Gridiron Icon’: Ramapo HS Football Coach Drew Gibbs, 59, Dies After Emergency Surgery
‘Gridiron Icon’: Ramapo HS Football Coach Drew Gibbs, 59, Dies After Emergency Surgery The term “legend” is often too easily used, but no one who knew him -- or of him -- would dispute how precisely it fits Drew Gibbs. All of them prayed for the best after learning that the Ramapo High School coach and teacher was hospitalized with chest pains following practice on Monday. Gibbs, who was eagerly anticipating another regional championship game this Friday, died Tuesday morning. He was 59. “I am devastated this morning by the sudden passing of the amazing, caring man I had the joy of calling my brother,” Geoff Gibbs posted soon after. “I am at a complete loss for words to des…
Bergen County High Schools Mourn Loss Of Beloved 'Coach H' Bergen County High Schools Mourn Loss Of Beloved 'Coach H'
Bergen County High Schools Mourn Loss Of Beloved 'Coach H' Jeff Horohonick -- a beloved and accomplished North Jersey high school softball coach -- died on Sept. 27. He was 60 years old. Those who knew him say his death was a combination of COVID-19 and complications of heart failure. Horohonich -- affectionately known as "Coach H" -- worked as a softball and girls basketball coach at Immaculate Heart and Lodi Immaculate. He was the head softball coach in Saddle Brook at the time of his death. "The great Anthony LaRezza was Coach 'H's' assistant at IHA for many years. Have to believe that Anthony welcomed his pal home, with that great grin of …
Northern Valley Knights Seek Baseball Coaches, Assistants Northern Valley Knights Seek Baseball Coaches, Assistants
Northern Valley Knights Seek Baseball Coaches, Assistants The Northern Valley Knights are seeking coaches and assistants for the spring/summer baseball seasons. These are paid positions, consisting of two practices and one game per week, for ages 10u-13u. Encouraged to apply are any and all high school baseball/softball players, former Knights players and local aspiring coaches. CONTACT: NVKBaseball@gmail.com The NV Knights have teams from 9u (3rd grade) through 14u (8th grade) and operate as a feeder for Northern Valley High School-Old Tappan baseball. The non-profit 501-C3 volunteer organization says it “is intended for more competitive playe…
Rival Wayne Football Coaches Suspended Rival Wayne Football Coaches Suspended
Rival Wayne Football Coaches Suspended Two football coaches from rival Wayne high schools have been suspended due to a game that ended with an altercation Sept. 7, NorthJersey.com reports. Wayne Hills head coach Wayne Demikoff told his players he was suspended from this week's practices and this Friday's game at West Milford, while Wayne Valley head coach Roger Kotlarz declined to name the coach that was suspended but did confirm suspension, the article says. Kotlarz said the highly-anticipated game is a "very special" event -- which made the altercation even more disappointing, NorthJersey.com says.  Details from the…
Former Leonia High Standout Athlete, Coach Chris Farulla Dies, 29 Former Leonia High Standout Athlete, Coach Chris Farulla Dies, 29
Former Leonia High Standout Athlete, Coach Chris Farulla Dies, 29 Christopher Daniel Farulla of Leonia died suddenly Aug. 21. He was 29 years old. Most recently of Phoenix, A.Z., Farulla was a longtime resident of Leonia where he was a high school wrestler and football player. He wrestled in the 2007 New Jersey State Wrestling Championships, earning the title Region 2 Champion. He later became a wrestling coach and mentor to countless high school athletes. Friends and loved ones remembered Farulla as being unapologetically honest and a good friend. "Chris Farulla, you were one of a kind my friend," JP Reyes wrote on social media.  "Alway…
Paramus Little League's Founding Father Donald Warner Dies Paramus Little League's Founding Father Donald Warner Dies
Paramus Little League's Founding Father Donald Warner Dies PARAMUS, N.J. — Donald L. Warner of Paramus died on Jan. 12 in Delray Beach, Fla. He was 93. Although he made his home in the Sunshine State for 27 years, Don’s heart forever belonged to his beloved Borough of Paramus.   As a founding father of the Paramus Little League in the mid-1950’s, Donny was the umpire for a generation of kids, and the “man in blue” behind the plate in the annual Fourth of July softball game between the Paramus Police and Fire Departments. For 35 years, he umpired baseball and softball and coached basketball in his beloved borough.  For his many years of service to…