Jackson Liberty High School cross country runner Lucy Kosty receives a hug from her father, Dennis, after finishing the 5,000-meter race at the Central Jersey Shootout at Thompson Park, Jamesburg. Kosty, who is a sophomore, ran a personal best time of 22:55 and finished 26th in her race. ERIC SUCAR staff A t the Sept. 26 Plumsted Township School District Board of Education meeting, Matt Kukoda was named head coach of the New Egypt High School boys varsity basketball team. He will lead the Warriors in the 2012-12 season.
Jay Corby, who previously held the position, stepped down this summer due to family obligations, according to a press release from the school district.
Kukoda is a teacher at New Egypt Middle School. He currently coaches football at New Egypt High School, serving as offensive coordinator and defensive backs coach.
In basketball, most recently, Kukoda has served under three-time Shore Conference Coach of the Year Dennis Devaney as assistant varsity and head junior varsity coach at St. Rose High School, Belmar.
In the past five seasons at St. Rose, the varsity has amassed 88 wins and berths in the 2008 and 2011 South Jersey Non-Public B final and the Elite Eight of the 2009, 2011 and 2012 Shore Conference tournaments.
In eight years as an assistant coach on the high school level at St. Rose and at St. John Vianney High School, Holmdel, Kukoda has mentored four 1,000-point scorers and two First Team All-Shore players.
“We are very excited to have Matt Kukoda as our new head boys basketball coach at New Egypt High School,” Athletic Director Rich Carroll said. “Matt’s basketball background and his tireless work ethic will benefit our current and future players. I have no doubt he will continue to lead our program in the right direction on and off the court.”
“The student-athletes of New Egypt High School are fortunate to be part of a strong tradition of academic and athletic success and I am honored to have been chosen to continue to uphold these standards,” Kukoda said. “The achievements of the boys basketball team under former coach Jay Corby, not only on the basketball court, but in the classroom and community, have been far-reaching. I am excited for the opportunity to not only maintain these standards, but to push forth on the expected path of excellence.”