By: John Chester, Sports Writer
If the days seem to be clicking off the calendar quicker than usual for Steve Jablonski this summer, it’s easy to understand why.
For Jablonski, there had to be a sense of anticipation of the professional milestone that he knew was ahead.
Jablonski in June was named the new head coach of Hightstown High School’s varsity football team. Anticipation met reality this past Monday August 13 as Jablonski led the 2007 Rams through their first pre-season practice.
For Jablonski, age 28, Hightstown is his first job as head coach at the high school level after serving as an assistant coach at West Windsor-Plainsboro High North for six years (2000-05) and last year at Hightstown.
For Hightstown in 2006, Jablonski was an assistant coach in charge of the offensive line and special teams on the staff of Ed Kopp, who stepped down earlier this year for family reasons. Kopp, who was Hightstown’s head coach in 2005-06, has moved to Pequannock High School in Morris County, NJ, where he is a science teacher and head coach of the varsity football team.
In 2006 under Kopp, Hightstown had a 6-4 record. Highlights of the season were winning the Colonial Valley Conference’s Valley League and qualifying for the state sectional playoffs.
The fact that Hightstown lost in the first round of the Central Jersey Group III playoffs to Middletown South High did not tarnish the Rams’ season. That’s because Middletown South won the sectional championship for the fourth straight year, this time in dominating fashion winning all three playoff games easily.
The playoff appearance in 2006 followed a 2-8 season in 2005. In the two seasons before that, Hightstown was successful led by head coach Skip Edwards. In 2003 and 2004, the Rams finished 6-4 and 7-3, respectively. In both years, they qualified for the CJ III playoffs, but lost in the first round.
Now, Jablonski is Hightstown’s third head coach in four years. He hopes to keep the Rams heading in the right direction.
"The kids have had a lot of change. They really liked the last head coach (Kopp). They really wanted him to stay. But he had to step down," Jablonski said.
He continued, "It’s a challenge for me being the third head coach in four years. At the same time, it’s a big opportunity for me and I’ve been looking forward to it."
Gary Bushelli, the athletic director at Hightstown High, is happy to have Jablonski as head coach of the varsity football team.
Bushelli said, "Steve is a very well-organized, energetic, enthusiastic and knowledgeable coach. He has established an excellent rapport with his players and is willing to work hard to be successful. I feel he will be an excellent addition to our athletic department as a head coach as well as the faculty at Hightstown High School."
Jablonski had been a member of the faculty at WW-P North as a social studies teacher. This year, he moves to Hightstown and will continue to teach social studies.
"Last year as an assistant at Hightstown also was a great opportunity for me," Jablonski said. "I came in not really knowing what to expect. We had a successful year. The kids were great. And I learned a ton from Ed (Kopp)."
This year, Jablonski said he will work with the offensive and defensive linemen in addition to being the head coach.
Jablonski will have the benefit of having four assistant coaches on his staff who are holdovers from Kopp’s staff. This season, assistant head coach Andy Elko will have primary responsibility for running backs. Tom Caporale will serve as defensive coordinator. Gary Leonhardt will work with quarterbacks and defensive ends. And John Murphy is the head coach of the freshman team.
There are two new assistants on Jablonski’s staff. Mark Van Horn will work with defensive backs. He had been an assistant coach at Holmdel High in Monmouth County, NJ. John Baldino will assist Murphy with the freshman team. Baldino also is the assistant coach of the Hightstown boys’ varsity ice hockey team.
"I am fortunate to have a great crew of experienced coaches," Jablonski said. "Their average experience is five-plus years. The guys who are back helped lead the team to the playoffs last year. They know what it takes to be successful."
Jablonski began his coaching career while a student at The College of New Jersey. He coached in a local recreation league for youngsters in Hamilton Township.
In the fall of 2000 (when he was a senior at TCNJ), Jablonski was the freshman coach at West Windsor-Plainsboro North High School. It was the first year for the football program at the new school.
In 2001, he coached the varsity offensive line at WW-P North. From 2003-05, he was offensive coordinator for the varsity.
During his time at WW-P North, the team made one appearance in the CJ III playoffs.
"I had some good years at WW-P North," Jablonski said. "It was a great opportunity for me to learn because it was a new program. It gave me a chance to get a lot of experience. It’s tough for a young coach to become a coordinator in his 20s."
Jablonski is still in his 20s and now he’s now the head coach at Hightstown.
In addition to his coaching experience, Jablonski brings to Hightstown experience as a player. He began at age eight, playing in a recreation league in Hamilton Township.
Jablonski went on to play two years of varsity football at Steinert High (Hamilton High-East) as a junior and senior. He was a guard on offense.

