Former Carteret boys basketball coach takes over Vikes after going 116-36 with Ramblers
By: Redd E. Patrick
Dave Turco may be a stranger to the South Brunswick High School boys basketball program, but he’s no stranger to Middlesex County basketball and he’s certainly no stranger to winning.
Turco, a 32-year-old Monroe resident, was recently hired to direct the Vikings boys varsity team. Turco will replace Hayward Vereen, a 10-year assistant who was the head man for one season.
According to Athletic Director Elaine McGrath, Vereen’s official reason for resigning was due to his health. Vereen led the program to a school-record 21-3 campaign in 2001-02.
Turco built the Carteret program into a small-school power. A teacher in Carteret, Turco led the Ramblers to a record of 116-36 in six seasons. During that stretch, Carteret won four GMC Blue Division crowns and have a current streak of 39 straight division victories.
Turco’s clubs have appeared in three straight GMC Tournament Final Fours. Carteret appeared in two GMCT finals over the past three seasons, winning it all last season.
Carteret has also played in three straight Central Jersey Group II finals, winning it in 1999-00.
"Leaving Carteret was the toughest decision I ever had to make," said Turco, who also played on a sectional title team at Carteret. "It’s like leaving a family. But the timing was right for me. This was an opportunity to coach at a bigger school, something I always wanted to do. We had a lot of success at a small school, now we’re looking to do the same thing at South Brunswick."
A year ago, South Brunswick won its first 15 games en route to capturing the school’s first-ever GMC Red Division title. The Vikings lost to Colonia in the GMCT semis and to Middletown North in the second round of the Central Jersey Group IV State Tournament.
South Brunswick lost the bulk of its rotation with the exception of 6-2 senior Chris Brown and 6-8 sophomore Dan Stonkus. A few other returning players saw limited varsity time.
"I know they lost their guards and most of their scoring, but there’s a good nucleus returning," said Turco. "I’m just hoping to do here what we did at Carteret where younger kids from the JVs stepped up and contributed. That really kept the program going.
"Playing in the Red Division is a challenge every night, but I think we should be able to compete."
Turco will be joined on the staff by last year’s JV coach Mike DeKok and last year’s freshman coach Joe Hoehman. He’s also hoping to hire one or two coaches he had with him at Carteret.
"This is a great challenge," said Turco. "Piscataway and St. Joseph’s are loaded, East Brunswick, J.P. Stevens and Old Bridge have everybody back, Edison and Perth Amboy are always tough … every night is going to feel like a tournament game in the Red Division and that is something I’m looking forward to."

