NJSCA Hall of Fame
Congratulations to the following people, who will be inducted into the New Jersey State Coaches Association Hall of Fame at a ceremony at the Pines Manor in Edison, NJ on January 11, 2026. click here to purchase a ticket
- John Bauer* - Randolph HS
- Christopher Beagan - Monroe Township HS / Sayreville War Memorial HS
- Tosca Blandford Bynoe - Willingboro HS
- James Boyle III - Hillside HS
- Todd Briggs - Freehold Twp HS
- Tracy Burkhart - Washington Twp HS
- Shelly Dearden - Ewing HS
- Stephen Fenton - Madison HS, Bloomfield HS, Jonathan Dayton HS, North Plainfield HS
- Richard Horan - Audubon HS / Gloucester Catholic HS
- David Leshnower - Mountain Lakes HS
- Bill Manzo - Ramapo HS
- Glenn Merkle - Woodstown HS
- Dave Patterson - Freehold Twp HS
- Clint "Cap" Pazdera - New Providence HS
- Caryn Schanstine - Northern Highlands HS
- Vinny Smith - Irvington HS
- Chris Tafelski - Westfield HS
- John Thompson - Delbarton School
*Posthumous Award
HOF Inductees from the Past 5 Years
Coach of the Year Honorees
The National Federation of High Schools (NFHS), in conjunction with the New Jersey Scholastic Coach's Association (NJSCA) also recognizes coaches for the promotion of their sport at the state, sectional and national levels. Congratulations to the 2024-2025 Coach of the Year recipients, who will also be recognized on January 11, 2026.
2024-2025 State Coach of the Year Honorees
- Baseball - Frank Clark, Midland Park HS
- Boys Basketball - Steven Jannarone, Colts Neck HS
- Boys Bowling - Shamir Bearfield, Saint Peter's Prep HS
- Boys Cross Country - Jim Schlentz, Colts Neck HS
- Boys Golf - Kevin Rooney, St. Joseph Regional HS
- Boys Ice Hockey - Matthew Juneau, St. Joseph Regional HS
- Boys Lacrosse - Boomer Wertheimer, Westfield HS
- Boys Soccer - Peter Marlys, Sterling HS
- Boys Spring Track - Schwann Grimes II, North Brunswick HS
- Boys Swimming - Melanie Dupuis, Ridge HS
- Boys Tennis - Brian Erhardt, Haddon Township HS
- Boys Volleyball - Natasha Batista, West Caldwell Tech HS
- Boys Winter Track - Curtis Custis, Winslow Township HS
- Boys Wrestling - Daniel Roy, Southern Regional HS
- Fencing - Glen Pernia, Ridge HS
- Field Hockey - Mary Pat Mercuro, Montclair HS
- Football - Jeremy Schulte, Rumson-Fair Haven HS
- Girls Basketball - Daniel Butler, Cherry Hill West HS
- Girls Bowling - Kirsten Pendleton, New Egypt HS
- Girls Cross Country - James Smirk, Princeton HS
- Girls Golf - Charlotte Heenan, Moorestown HS
- Girls Gymnastics - Becky Neidhardt, Mount Olive HS
- Girls Ice Hockey - Jamie Davis and Jade Meier, Princeton Day School
- Girls Lacrosse - Carter Abbott, Pingry School
- Girls Soccer - Drew Wagner, Shawnee HS
- Girls Spring Track - Michael Placko, Clayton HS
- Girls Swimming - Edward Koenigsfest III, Montclair HS
- Girls Tennis - Alene Hartman, Egg Harbor Township HS
- Girls Volleyball - Melissa Landeck, Northern Valley Regional Old Tappan HS
- Girls Winter Track - Chris Messina, Dumont HS
- Girls Wrestling - Eric Bollette, Newton HS / Kittatinny HS
- Softball - Nikki Velardi, Cedar Grove HS
Past COY Recipients
