2023 was full of accomplishments by teams, players, and coaches across the New Jersey high school athletes scene. Jersey Sporting News is honoring some of those with our 2023 JSN Awards. Here are the finalists for JSN High School Coach of the Year:
Brian O’Connor: Coach O’Connor worked nothing less than magic at the western Morris County high school during the Fall of 2023. In 2022, Mount Olive high school’s football team won one game under Coach O’Connor. But he didn’t wallow in shame. He learned his lessons and managed to turn the team completely around, guiding the Marauders to a 11-2 regular season record and the school’s second Sectional Title in school history. Mt. Olive fell in the semifinals of the Group 4 Tournament to Ramapo but the season was a total success.
Vito Campanile: Coach Campanile led his Crusaders to a 3rd straight state title defeating Delbarton in the Non-Public Group A Championship. The lone loss of the season for Bergen Catholic came on September 8th to Chaminade-Madona falling 61-21. Coach Campanile made sure his team stayed confident and rattled off 9 straight wins. Bergen Catholic finished the year as the #13 team according to MaxPreps.
Eric Maxwell: (Southern Girls Volleyball): What more can be said about how incredible a season the Southern Girls Volleyball team had? En route to a 32-2 record, the Rams only dropped four sets all season long and even won the Group 4 Championship match, 2-0 over Morristown. Maxwell deserves this honor for helping this team remain consistent and live up to expectations all season long.
