By Ken Weingartner, Special Writer
The search for a new head football coach at South Brunswick High School is under way.
Athletics Director Elaine McGrath said Wednesday that the school advertised for a new coach in last Sunday’s papers and will begin to review applicants when a pool of candidates is collected.
Tarig Holman was informed last week he would not be rehired after one season as the Vikings’ head coach. South Brunswick compiled a 3-7 record after qualifying for the state sectional playoffs the previous two years.
”We’d like to hire someone as soon as possible,” Ms. McGrath said. “As soon as we review the candidates and feel like there is a pool to interview, we’re going to work on it. We’ll sit down with the principal (Tim Matheney), and we’ll look at the resumes and set up a plan as far as interviews and where we’re going to go.”
Mr. Holman replaced Rick Mantz, who left the program after two seasons to pursue business interests. South Brunswick went 9-2 in 2008 and reached the semifinals of the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV playoffs, losing 14-7 to eventual sectional champion Brick Memorial.
The Vikings graduated their top five rushers and top receiver from 2008 as well as one of two quarterbacks who split time running the offense.
Mr. Holman, a former football star at Randolph High and the University of Iowa prior to an injury-marred stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL, was in his first season as a head coach. He was an assistant on Mr. Mantz’ staff and also served in that capacity at several other schools, including New Brunswick and Highland Park.
He teaches English at South Brunswick High School.
”Nobody is going to put more pressure on me to be successful than I put on myself,” Mr. Holman said prior to the season. “If we keep working hard and instilling the same values and getting them to practice hard, the wins will take care of themselves.
”Times change, but the values and principles of life don’t change. Hard work and dedication and commitment; those are the same things that have always worked. That’s it in a nutshell.”
Ms. McGrath said the school would prefer to hire a coach with head coaching experience, but “that doesn’t preclude us from looking at the best pool of candidates we have.”
After deciding on a coach, a recommendation will be made to Superintendent Gary P. McCartney, and the candidate will go before the school board for approval.
”It’s time consuming, but it’s really worth taking your time to go through and interview the best possible candidates for the position,” Ms. McGrath said.