Ending A Month, Ending A Career

Jumping around a bit on the final weekday of June:

Frank Roselli ends a 40-year career in education this week, the last 32 of which were spent in Toms River. The 61-year old Roselli officially retires on June 30th from his position as Superintendent of Schools in Toms River, a post he took over in 2011 following the scandal involving former schools chief Michael Ritacco.

Roselli, who was an Assistant Superintendent at that time, was the right choice and the glue that held the district together during what was certainly a dark period. I equate him to Gerald Ford replacing Richard Nixon for those of you old enough to remember the Watergate scandal. Roselli helped heal some serious wounds and after suffering a heart attack in March it’s now time for him to enjoy retirement.

Current Assistant James Hauenstein will serve as acting superintendent until August 1st when Tom Gialanella begins a five-month contract as Interim schools chief while the Board of Education searches for a permanent replacement for Roselli.

Just over a year after he graduated from college Mike Denver takes over one of the most high-profile wrestling coaching positions in the state. Last night the Brick Township Board of Education named Denver the replacement for Dan O’Cone at Brick Memorial, the defending Group 4 and Shore Conference champions.

A Central Regional graduate, Denver was a 3-time All American at The College of New Jersey and won the NCAA Division 3 National Championship at 184 pounds in 2012. He spent last year as the head coach at St. Rose and when O’Cone announced he was stepping down after 7 seasons as head coach in the spring Denver’s name quickly surfaced to the top of the Mustangs list. He takes over a program built on tradition and expected to be a powerhouse next season as well.

Youngsters attending the Ram Youth Football Camp at Southern Regional High School got a treat Thursday when Cincinnati Bengal Clark Harris stopped by to speak with the campers. Harris was a three-sport standout at Southern and later a two-time All Big East tight end at Rutgers. He has made a nice career for himself in the NFL as a long snapper and has appeared in every Bengals game since signing with the team in 2009.