Jim Agnello led St. Rose to a banner season in his first year as head coach.
In addition to
DigitalSports Coach of the Year Kevin James of Rumson-Fair Haven, there were plenty of other notable coaching performances from this season.
Jim Agnello, St. Rose: In his first year with the Purple Roses, Agnello stepped into a potentially tough situation after the previous coach, Bart McInerney, was removed when he was charged with endangering the welfare of a child. However, Agnello focused his team on moving on, and it turned in one of the best seasons in school history. The Purple Roses went 27-2, setting the school single-season record for wins, won their first Monmouth County Tournament title and won the Non-Public B championship. Oh, and by the way, Agnello also serves as St. Rose's athletic director, so he did it with a full plate. You could make a good argument for Agnello pushing James for the overall Coach of the Year honor.
Ken Frank, Toms River South: People seem to take the legendary coach for granted, but if any other team won the Ocean County Tournament and Shore Conference Tournament, that would be a blockbuster season. For the Indians, it's expected.
John Scran, Central: In his first season as head coach, he took them from four wins to 15, winning a share of the Class B South title along the way and advancing to the semifinals of the Ocean County Tournament by beating defending OCT champion Toms River East.
Ted Jarmusz, Monmouth: Jarmusz's teams always seem to be in the hunt, as the Falcons reached the Central Jersey Group III final and were second in Class B North, finishing behind Wall in both instances.
Ted Schelmay, Toms River North: Schelmay coached the Mariners to their first South Jersey Group IV title since 1997 and their second straight Class A South title.
Todd Schmitt, Wall: Schmitt and his program just continue to stack up wins, as the Crimson Knights won 21 games, the Central Jersey Group III title, the Class B North title, and advanced to the Group III final.
Rob Stetz, Keyport: Under Stetz, the Red Raiders won their first state playoff game since 2001.
John Kaye, Matawan: The Huskies won their first Shore Conference Tournament game since 1991 and had their first winning season since the early 1990s.
Rich Bishop, Brick Memorial: Bishop helped guide the Mustangs to their first Ocean County Tournament final since 1996.
Tom Sutaris, Barnegat: Sutaris piloted the Bengals to a share of the Class B South title, winning the school's first division title in just the third year of the varsity program.
Marty Kenney, Christian Brothers Academy: The Colts lost nearly their entire starting lineup to graduation and watched as projected starting pitchers Mike Zuppe, Remy Cohen and Nick Falcone missed all or most of the season with injuries, yet they still won the Non-Public South A title and the Class A North Non-Public title as well as 20 games.
Brian Boyce, Manalapan: Boyce led the Braves to their first appearance in the Monmouth County Tournament final since 1997.
Mike Yorke, Colts Neck: Last season's DigitalSports Coach of the Year, Yorke led the Cougars to a second straight Class A North public title, the semifinals of the Shore Conference Tournament and a berth in the Central Jersey Group IV final.
Jeff Karpell, Shore: The Blue Devils lost a lot to graduation, yet won their second straight Class B Central public title and reached the semifinals in Central Jersey Group II.
Johnny Grasso, Asbury Park: Grasso has a program that was on life support only a few years ago moving in the right direction, as the Blue Bishops won four games and also won their first divisional game in at least 15 years.