Kalick takes over as coach.
By: John Chester
Sometimes when a new head coach takes over a program, it takes time for the players to get used to the new leader and his approach.
However, that won’t be an issue in the case of Tim Kalick, the new head coach of the Hightstown High School boys’ varsity soccer team.
Kalick takes over from longtime head coach Dominic Mastroianni, who led the Rams to three straight championships of the Colonial Valley Conference’s Valley League in his final three seasons.
Kalick oversaw his first practice as Rams’ head coach on August 15. He has worked his players steadily since.
Players know what to expect since a number of them were part of Kalick’s highly successful junior varsity team in 2005 that went 15-1. In 2006, Kalick supported Mastrolanni as an assistant coach of the varsity.
"The program has been on an upswing. I am excited and am looking forward to the season," Kalick said. "I’ve worked with our seniors and juniors the last couple of years. So they have a heads up as to what to expect from me and how I like to run things."
Kalick is a physical education teacher at Hightstown High. This is his fifth season coaching soccer at the school. He began in 2003 as an assistant coach for the girls’ team before moving to the boys’ team starting in 2004.
This past spring, Kalick completed his fourth season as head coach of the Hightstown varsity softball team.
"Tim has been as assistant coach with the boys’ team and this will be an easy transition for the athletes as well as coaching staff with Tim moving up to be the varsity head coach," said Gary Bushelli, Athletic Director, Hightstown High. "Tim has played both high school and college soccer. He is very enthusiastic and has a very positive approach to the athletes. I feel that we are fortunate to have such a knowledgeable and popular teacher as Tim as our head boys’ soccer coach."
Before coming to Hightstown, Kalick gained four years of coaching experience. From 1999-2001, he served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Eastern High School. In 2002, he coached at the middle school level in Howell Township.
Soccer has been part of Kalick’s life since the age of five. That’s when he began playing in a local recreation program in South Jersey. He progressed to travel teams and on to Eastern High School. He was on the varsity as a sophomore, junior and senior, playing as a forward.
Kalick continued his playing career at Wesley College, Dover, DE. He played on the varsity all four years as a midfielder. In soccer, Wesley is Division III.
After graduation from college, his former coach at Eastern High Pete DeFeo didn’t waste time in getting Kalick into coaching, seeking him out to serve an assistant on his staff. Kalick accepted the opportunity.
Kalick mentioned that DeFeo and his college coach, Steve Clark, who is beginning his 19th season at Wesley, are among those in soccer who have influenced his growth in soccer both as a player and a coach.
Kalick also got to work with Mastroianni, a veteran coach, in Hightstown. He will look to build around a solid core of players who return from last year’s team that won the Valley League and qualified for the state tournament (Group III).
Kalick gave a hint as to what to expect from the 2007 Rams.
"I like for my team to play ball control and move together as a unit," he said. "And we’re going to be in shape. Players develop by playing the game. In order to play the game, they have to develop their legs by running."
As a result, Kalick said he will vary the practice regimen from day to day during the pre-season.
"We’ll spend some days in the weight room and focusing on conditioning. Some days we’ll focus on working with the ball and developing team skills," he said. "And we’ll run throughout camp."
No question Kalick wants his team to have the conditioning edge over opponents. The first scrimmage is scheduled for August 28 at home against New Brunswick High.
Jim Peto will work with Kalick as an assistant coach for the boys’ varsity team this season. Peto is also the varsity baseball coach at Hightstown.
Roger Weck, a volunteer, returns as an assistant coach. He and Mike Russo will work with the junior varsity. Russo is new as an assistant soccer coach. He also is the varsity wrestling coach at Hightstown.
And Wilson Hernandez will coach the boys’ freshman soccer team. In 2006, he coached the junior varsity.

