HHS coach inducted into state Hall of Fame
by Rudy Brandl, Sports Editor
Rich Refi doesn’t like to take credit for what his athletes accomplish. He’s a very modest head coach who quietly goes about his work, which quite often leads to winning championships.
Hillsborough High’s most prolific three-season head coach was inducted into the New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association Hall of Fame earlier this year, but he still gives greater accolades to his assistant coaches.
”One thing that’s very important to me is to recognize my assistants,” Refi said. “Anyone who thinks they can do it by themselves is a fool. You have to count on your assistants to do a good job for you. I’ve been very lucky to have good assistants.”
Refi especially wanted to recognize two old veterans who served as his mentors when he began his coaching career. Jim MacLuskie and Mike Murphy, two track and field gurus, helped Refi in his early days and also worked on his coaching staff at Hillsborough. Murphy, the former Hunterdon Central head coach, was inducted into the NJSCA Hall of Fame in 1994.
”They taught me a lot,” Refi said. “I learned very early that if you hire people who are very smart, they make you look smart.”
Bob O’Rourke, another veteran who specializes in cross country and distance running, leads the list of current Hall of Famers on Refi’s staff. The former North Hunterdon head coach was inducted into the NJSCA Hall of Fame in 1993.
Refi also wished to recognize assistant coaches Tierra Hicks, Chris Guglielmo, Eric Rosenthal, Julie Ullmeyer and Jim O’Connor for their help throughout the years. While Refi oversees the entire operation, he allows his assistants to work more closely with their athletes on particular events.
”I don’t have an ego I let them coach their group,” Refi said. “That’s a big part of it, letting them coach. I do not tell them how to coach. I have the utmost confidence in my assistants.”
Refi’s records at HHS are off the charts, especially as the head coach of the girls’ track and field team. The Hillsborough girls had an 11-year, 80-meet regular season win streak snapped this year, but they’ve posted a 92-4 record in Refi’s 13 seasons at the helm.
The boys’ cross country program has enjoyed a rebirth under Refi. The HHS boys have compiled a 12-year record of 73-15 while boasting team and individual champions at the county and conference level.
Refi also started the school’s winter program 12 years ago and the boys’ and girls’ teams have won titles on the county, conference and state levels. The Raiders have collected many medals from the NJSIAA Meet of Champions both indoors and outdoors during Refi’s tenure.
Overall, Refi’s Hillsborough teams have won four state sectional championships, 21 Somerset County titles, 17 Skyland Conference crowns and 14 Delaware Division titles. He’s received three state Coach of the Year awards, four area Coach of the Year awards, one NFHS Coach of the Year award and one NJSIAA Sport Award.
Hard work is another key ingredient to Refi’s success. He puts in the time and asks his athletes to do the same.
”I’ve been a hard worker all my life,” Refi said. “I’ve tried to tell the kids how important it is. I instill that in all the kids.”
Refi has earned somewhat of a reputation as a tough coach who puts his athletes through grueling workouts. He takes great pride in making average athletes into very competitive and well-conditioned winners. The work ethic within the program also has created a great team bonding experience among the athletes.
”We don’t always have the best talent but we work hard and we work smart,” he said. “We work hard but we play hard. I truly believe that. We definitely work hard but we have a good time. I think the kids enjoy being there. That’s the key.”
He has coached 16 undefeated teams and 68 All-Americans, including national champions in the girls’ distance medley relay and Eastern States champs in the boys’ 4×800 and triple jump. While Refi has coached elite athletes and state champions like Ebony Young, Jason Walton, Taryn O’Connor, Ebony Foster, Miguel Jones and Kristen Meyer, he’s helped athletes on many different levels become contributors to his teams.
”Winning championships is thrilling but nothing can compare to the joy of helping committed athletes of any ability level to achieve their goals,” Refi said in the Memorable Accomplishments portion of the Hall of Fame program.
The NJSCA Hall of Fame’s history goes back almost 50 years. In 1961, the New Jersey Interscholastic Coaches Association honored all football coaches with undefeated seasons. In 1964, the NJICA honored coaches of all sports, past or present, who had been nominated from their county by their peers.
Then in 1983, the honor award program was renamed as the NJICA Hall of Fame and included all past honorees. In 1995, the New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association assumed the sponsorship
There were 436 public, non-public and independent secondary schools in New Jersey for the 2008-2009 school year, sponsoring 7.950 varsity teams. It certainly is a distinct honor to be selected for membership in the NJSCA Hall of Fame.
Refi joins Joe Paulino (1982) and Barbara Hudock (1983) as the only coaches inducted during their careers at Hillsborough. Norm Hewitt (1991) was inducted while coaching baseball at Bridgewater-Raritan.
He’s hoping to add another highlight to his resume this fall with the HHS girls’ cross country team. The Raiders gave Refi the biggest thrill of his career last November when they made a remarkable surge to the podium at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions for finishing third in the state team standings.
”This group of girls with less than extraordinary talent set goals and committed themselves to an arduous training program,” Refi said. “They won no titles but surpassed every personal and team goal to make this the most exciting and rewarding experience of my career.”
This fall, the HHS girls will try to accomplish the only thing they didn’t do last year. It’s also one of Refi’s mottos and perennial goals for every team he coaches. He’s competitive and trains his athletes to embrace this philosophy.
”The goal is to win every one every year,” Refi said.
Refi and his teams have come pretty close to perfection in the last two decades.