4/2/2011 - History Made At Pope John
The moment was not lost on Brian Carlson. In fact, it wasn’t lost on anyone affiliated with Pope John.
When the Sparta resident and former Don Bosco Prep assistant was introduced Friday afternoon as the new head football coach at Pope John, there was definite feeling that history was being made, albeit under not the most ideal circumstances.
After an incredible five-decade run and a state-record 373 wins, Vic Paternostro resigned in March due to health reasons, according to school president Monsignor Kieran McHugh.
Paternostro publicly disputed that claim in what was a three-week drama played out in the local media. So when McHugh was asked about the changing of the guard, he was honest and forthright.
“This is monumental to replace a man, a legend,” said McHugh of Paternostro. “It is a great burden and responsibility,” adding he felt “little shaky” if things don’t work out.
McHugh added he had visited Paternostro and that Vic looked great and the two shook hands and he hoped that the school could honor him for all he accomplished in his brilliant career.
While McHugh was being asked those questions, Carlson sat stoically at the conference room table, but was affable and very open when questioned himself. When it came to talking about the Paternostro situation, he said, “It is unfortunate it unfolded like that.”
Carlson said he interviewed with Paternostro in February for an assistant position and then he applied for the head job when it became available.
McHugh said that he, Athletic Director Mia Gavan and Vice Principal Vinnie Bello did an extensive background check on Carlson when it became apparent he was their top candidate after 22 coaches “some of them phenomenal” applied for the prestigious job.
McHugh said Carlson’s resume, energy and enthusiasm won him over and that,
“It takes great courage to take that job.”
“I’m blessed to have the opportunity,” said Carlson, who was involved with the Sparta Bears youth program and was the head coach at Kean University in the 1990s.
“He (Paternostro) is a legend and someone like that you don’t replace,” he added. “He is like the Joe Paterno of high school football.”
Carlson, a Bergen County native and former standout at Montclair State, said he wants to put his own stamp on the program and he definitely will as he will install the spread offense and a 4-2 defense in an effort to gain the school’s first Non-Public Group 3 title after winning 20 state titles on the Group 2 and old Parochial B level.
Carlson said he wants to press people on both sides of the ball and that Pope John currently has the personnel to do just that. He added that coaching under Greg Toal at Bosco gave him great insight and that he is currently interviewing coaches to join the staff.
Okay, that is the nuts and bolts of what went down at PJ on Friday. Everyone said the right things and McHugh was his usual charming self. Yes, naming a new head coach is huge news, but I was just as interested to get McHugh’s reaction about the fallout of Paternostro’s leaving.
No one wants the type of publicity that came with Vic leaving. I truly believe McHugh has the utmost respect and gratitude for everything Paternostro has done for the school. The two had become synonymous with the school, and on a personal level, it saddened me to see it play out like it did so publicly.
I was happy to hear the two had met personally and had a great conversation, according to McHugh.
When Paternostro stepped down, I wrote in a previous blog that the new hire would give an indication of what direction Pope John wanted to go in and it became very obvious to me on Friday: The Lions want to be mentioned in the same breath as Bosco, Bergen Catholic, St. Peter’s and St. Joes.
The spread offense has been all the rage at the top football schools in the state the last 10 or so years and Pope John has joined in. It is the old, if you can’t beat them, join philosophy.
The inverted wishbone Paternostro perfected over the years was a thing of beauty to watch when it was run correctly and that was on most occasions. The execution was always perfect.
Maybe I’m old fashioned, but I get a kick out of watching a huge hole open up and seeing a Kyle McGrath or 30-plus years ago, his dad, Chris, break through and go for 60 yards to paydirt.
I’ve always said that even though PJ doesn’t run the ball a lot, it had a quick-strike offense due to all the weapons the Lions had in the backfield. Kids who could go for 90 yards in a blink of any eye.
But that’s me. Maybe the new offense will attract more players to the school. According to McHugh, no players left the team after Paternostro resigned and there hasn’t been much of an alumni backlash.
As I said before, it won’t be the same watching a Pope John football game without Vic on the sidelines. But time marches on and I hope the school does the right thing by honoring Vic because love him or hate him, Paternostro, along with the late great Dick Cassels of Sparta, put Sussex County football on the map.
As for Carlson, he knows full well he has big shoes fill, but with his background he is ready for the challenge. Replacing a legend is no easy task. Just ask Phil Bengston. (Look it up kids and you will know what I mean).
In other PJ coaching news, Gavan confirmed that Mark Young has stepped down as the boys basketball coach after successful tenure.
The Lions went 15-7 last season and placed second in the NJAC American Division. Young had a great run as the PJ girls coach before taking over the boys head job.
Gavan said the job will be posted.
There are numerous candidates for the job, but it will be interesting to see if assistant coach Eric DuCharme will apply. The former Newton star did some real nice things at Kittatinny, not exactly a basketball factory, before joining Young’s staff this past season.
On a personal level, Young has been nothing but good to us here at Mugs Media and I’ve always had a great relationship with him. PJ fans can always remember Young for leading the Lions to one of their biggest state tournament wins when they blew out St. Joe’s of Montvale a couple of years back.
I wish Mark all the best.
And finally, many thanks to the new sponsor of my blog McGivney and Kluger law firm in Sparta. Chuck McGivney has been a pillar in the community and it is an absolute honor to have the firm sponsor the blog.
That’s it for now, see you on the sidelines.
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