Cranford coach Dennis McCaffery goes after career victory No. 500 on Wednesday against Elizabeth.
As we begin the 2024 High School Baseball season, we release, once again, the updated All-Time N.J. Baseball Coaches Victories List.
Our list gets tighter and tighter each year as we chase down the few remaining missing parts in this labor of love. Joining this prestigious group this time around are Steve Nelson of Carteret (401-243-11) and Bill Foley (250-149-1) of Bloomfield. We also finally nailed down the hard career numbers of our Hunterdon County neighbor Parker Snare (501-248-2) of North Hunterdon and Jim Dietz (243-186) of Summit.
While we have some good stories to report on these three gentlemen, let us first alert you to a few inevitable milestones that will be eclipsed this spring, while providing a full list of the 14 coaches who have at least an outside shot at reaching the next centennial milestone.
McCaffery, Hommen, Horan, Shatel, Gore next to eclipse milestones
We’ll have two new entrants to the 600-win club in a matter of weeks. Kurt Hommen (596-278-1) of defending Group 4 state champion Ridgewood and Rich Horan (592-231-3), Audubon’s longtime mentor, are on the precipice of that big number. Horan is beginning his 33rd season and his teams own eight NJSIAA Group championships. Hommen’s Ridgewood team opened the 2024 season with a big victory over Bergen County rival Bergen Catholic.
Cranford coach Dennis McCaffery (499-143) has pulled to within a single win of the 500-win club after his team defeated Union, 12-0, on opening day. McCaffery is winning at an electric .777 pace. Dennis goes for career victory No. 500 on Wednesday in a 10 a.m. game at Elizabeth. It won’t be easy but it’s worth noting that Brian Giallella (474-131) of Steinert is also starting to cast a shadow on the 500 club. Giallella has won at an even more consistent pace than McCaffery, raising the winning percentage bar to .783.
Speaking of coaches making quick work of milestones, Delbarton’s Bruce Shatel (397-152-2) has climbed to within three wins of the 400-win club after his team’s opening day win, while winning at a .723 pace. Greg Trotter (373-255) of Roxbury may not get there this year but his 400th win is getting within smelling distance. Shatel, by the way, began his head coaching career at Roxbury before following his buddy Brian Fleury at Delbarton in 2008.
DJ Gore (295) of Highland, Glenn Fredericks (293-179) of Spotswood and Mike Policastro (294-259) of Bloomfield lead a sure-thing group chasing after the 300-win club this spring.
And a handful of hopefuls following in the 300-win chase include Mike Lepore, Jr. (288) of South River, Ron Gavazzi (286) of Montclair, Pete Mueller (285) of Montgomery, Vinne Abene (282) of Edison and Ken Harrison (278) of Hopewell Valley
Steve Nelson had a terrific coaching career at Carteret, his alma mater. His 401-234-11 record over 27 seasons included four divisional, five conference, two sectional and one state championship. He was named Coach of the Year by The News Tribune, Home News and Elizabeth Journal on several occasions. His career was capped in 1999 with induction into the NJSIAA Hall of Fame. His .623 winning percentage attests to his consistent success. Nelson died in 2003 at the age of 67.
Bill Foley earned his legendary status as Bloomfield’s football coach, a team that was a statewide powerhouse during his long tenure spanning 1915 to 1950 and included a run of six straight state championships and a 53-3-2 record from 1932-’37. Like most coaches from his era, Foley coached multiple sports and put forth quite a record of success in the sport of baseball. Foley coached baseball at Bloomfield from 1915 to 1951, winning 250 games and losing 149 for a .627 winning percentage. Most teams during that era played a much smaller schedule, more like 10-15 games a season. Foley’s success in baseball included two Greater Newark Tournament championships when that tournament was an all-groups invite-only affair. The GNT then was comparable to a Tournament of Champions. Foley’s baseball teams won a Group 4 championship in 1945 and earned a total of six sectional titles.
Parker Snare was indeed North Hunterdon baseball for 33 years through the 2011 season and was surely one of the most well-liked and admired coaches in the Skyland Conference during his tenure. Always one of the top teams in the conference and the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area under Snare, North Hunterdon reached the 2008 NJSIAA Group 4 championship game, falling to neighbor Hunterdon Central.
NJ High School All-Time Baseball Coaches Victories List (through 2023 season)
x-Active
900
x-Ken Frank, Toms River South – 929-338-3 (.733)
800
x-Mike Sheppard, Jr., West Orange/Seton Hall Prep – 846-232-6 (.785)
Marty Kenny, Christian Brothers Academy – 832-349 (.704)
700
Tony Ferrainolo, Memorial (WNY) – 754-208 (.784)
Harry Shatel, Morristown – 752-326 (.698)
x-Sam Tropiano, St. Augustine/Bishop Eustace – 748-268-1 (.736)
600
Rich Bender, Delran – 672-349 (.658)
Lee Ware, Woodstown – 671-414 (.618)
Bob Brewster, Westfield – 655-342-3 (.657)
Ray Korn, Elizabeth – 651-308-1 (.679)
Gordon LeMatty, Union – 641-272-4 (.702)
Norm Hewitt, Bridgewater West, Bridgewater, Hillsborough – 631-326 (.659)
Frank Salvano, St. Joseph (Mont.) 630-184-1 (.774)
Mike Zadroga, Dickinson/NBergen/HCath/CtyPrp – 611-254 (.706)
Russ Spicer, Hadd., Moorestown, Paulsboro, Cinnaminson. – 603-287 (.678)
500
x-Kurt Hommen, Ridgewood – 595-278-1 (.682)
Joe Kasberger, St. Benedict’s Prep 593-137-3 (.812)
x-Rich Horan, Audubon – 592-231-3 (.726)
x-Tim Byron, Glen Ridge/Montclair/Old Tappan – 559-364-4 – (.606)
Joe Urbanovich, St. Peter’s Prep – 580-272 (.681)
Andy Greener, Ewing – 561-244-5 (.697)
John Ponchak, Ramsey – 555-342 (.619)
x-Dennis Barth, Gloucester Catholic – 552-115-1 (.828)
Bob Carcich, Emerson – 539-233 (.698)
Joe Cervino, Paramus – 538-284-2 (.648)
Butch Servideo, Lyndhurst – 524-265-1 (.664)
Tom Gambino, Immaculata – 522-133-1 (.797)
Jack Fletcher, Columbia – 522-227 (.696)
Ralph Cobb, Old Tappan/Rutherford – 522-321 (.619)
Bill Frank, Toms River East – 520-279-2 (.651)
Mike Hogan, St.M(J.C.)/St. Anthony/Marist/Ferris – 519-427 (.549)
Champ Atlee, Lawrenceville – 519
x-Gary Sarno, Camd.Cath.,CherryHWest, Hamm., PaulVI/Triton – 512-317-2 (.618)
John Brunelli, Cliffside Park – 511-239 (.681)
Ralph Pacifico, Montclair Kimberley – 510-325-1 (.611)
Lou Calderone, Glen Ridge – 507-199 (1971-’90; 93-98; 00-01) (.718)
Dave Martin, Cherry Hill East – 502-286 (.637)
Parker Snare, North Hunterdon – 501-284-2 (.638)
400
x-Dennis McCaffery, Cranford – 498-143 (.777)
Barry Cook, St. John Vianney – 481
Mario Diez, Watchung Hills – 476-253 (.653)
x-Brian Giallella, Notre Dame/Steinert – 474-131 (.783)
Jerry Battaglini, Newark Central/East Side/Columbia – 473-310 (.604)
Rob Christ, Gateway/Eastern – 469-203 (.698)
Brian Gibney, Shawnee – 469-210 (.691)
Tom Trotman, Cherry Hill West – 467-234-1 (.666)
x-John Sheppard, Morristown Beard – 467
Ted Jarmusz, W.Orange/Monmth Reg – 465-295 (.612)
Clary Anderson, Montclair Acad./Blair/Montclair -464-154 (.751)
John Fitzpatrick, South River – 463-197 (.702)
Buddy Matthews, Hoboken – 459-234 (.662)
x-Jim Maher, Florence/Ham.West/Nottingham/Lawrence – 450-196 (.697)
x-Chris Roof, Millburn/Gov. Livingston – 448-179-1 ) (.715)
x-Bill Alvaro, Jr., Williams./Wash. Twp./Kingsway – 445-222-1 (.667)
Phil Baccarella, Bayonne – 440-162 (.731)
Ed Rogers, Pequannock – 433
x-Tom Carney, Lakewood/St. Jos. Hamm./Delsea/Buena – 430-203 (.679)
Scott Runkel, Bishop Ahr – 430-270-1 (.614)
Joe Policastro, Highland Park – 429
Pete Hall, Ridge – 423-215 (.663)
Vince Ardery, Notre Dame (Lawr.) – 421-178 (.703)
Rick Sabol, Somerville – 420-298 (.585)
x-Pat Laguerre, St. Peter’s Prep – 413-196 (.678)
Pete Crandall, Park Ridge – 408
Larry D’Zio Jr., Jackson Memorial – 407
John Bush, Washington Twp. – 406-191-1 (.680)
Todd Schmitt, Wall – 403-173 (.700)
Bill Haessler, Cherokee – 403-224 (.648)
Marty Flynn, Ham. West – 403
x-Gary Herron, Moorestown Friends/Riverside -402-312 (.563)
Rich Giallella, Steinert – 401-111 (.783)
Stephen Nelson, Carteret – 401-243-11 (.623)
Bill Lampeter, Livingston – 401
300
x-Bruce Shatel, Roxbury/Delbarton – 396-152-2 (.723)
x-Vinnie Bello, Marist/Pope John – 389-240-1 (.618)
Brandon Flanagan, River Dell – 385-168 (.696)
Rich Veth, Middletown North, 378-189-2. (.667)
Lou Urbano, JFK-Iselin/St. Jos. (Met.)/Woodbridge – 375
Fred Kampf, Shore Reg. – 374-211-3 (.639)
x-Greg Trotter, Roxbury – 373-254 (.595)
x-Joe Drulis, Notre Dame (Law.) – 371-146-2 (.718)
Scott Illiano, West Essex/Caldwell/Wayne Hills – 365-206-1 (.639)
John Mazzo, North Bergen/Passaic Valley – 365-347-1 (.513)
Frank Malta, Johnson Reg./Jackson – 364-168-1 (.684)
Greg Butler, Demarest/Don Bosco Prep – 361-153 (.702)
Craig Mensinger, Ocean City – 360-345-7 (.511)
x-Brian Anderson, Shawnee – 357-176 (.670)
Mickey Hunt, Ramapo – 357-182 (.662)
Tom Bujnowski, Bayonne – 354-178 (.665)
Al Radano, Gloucester Catholic – 351-101 (.777)
x-Dave Pasquale, Newark Academy, Gill St. Bernards – 347-228 (.603)
Ted Schelmay, Toms River North – 346-181-2 (.657)
Jon Block, Freehold/Point Pleasant Beach: 345-319 (.520)
Bob Bickel, Haddonfield – 341
Joe Lang, Pitman – 340-161 (.679)
Jake Landfried, Manasquan: 338-172 (.663)
Brian Boyce, North Bergen/Manalapan – 337-215 (.611)
x-Jeff Falzarano, Bridg East/Watchung Hills/Bernards – 336-315-3 (.516)
Mike Raymond, Hunterdon Central – 335-115-1 (.744)
Dave Minsavage, Hanover Park – 334-173 (.659)
Stan Liptzin, Lakewood – 334-183 (.646)
Joe Konn, Bloomfield – 333-234-3 (.587)
Bernie Goldwater, Southern Freehold/Freehold Township – 331-190 (.635)
Roy Hallenbeck, Millville – 330-194-1 (.630)
Chuck Rooney, Cherokee/Eastern – 329-221 (.598)
x-Larry Santowasso, Rutgers Prep – 327-264-1 (.553)
Joe Yurko, Westwood – 324-235 (.580)
Al Kunzman, Central Regional – 324
Hal Lorme, Rumson-Fair Haven – 323
Wendell Wear, Hanover Park – 322-273 (.541)
Mike Bylone, St. Augustine – 319-105 (.752)
x-Frank Clark, EmerUC/Wald/MidPark/ – 319-168-3 (.655)
Bill Chesney, Manchester Reg./Elmwood Park/Ramsey – 312-237 (.568)
Jack Lynch, Cedar Grove – 311-155 (.667)
Phil “Wally” Krug, Millburn – 311
Walter Serad, Delsea – 310-182 (.630)
Marty Flynn, Hamilton West – 308
Ed Klimek, Teaneck – 307-410 (.428)
Chuck Dougherty, Middle Township – 305-246 (.554)
Buddy Hausmann, Red Bank Catholic – 303-111-1- (.732)
Frank Elias, Morris Knolls – 303-202-7 (.600)
x-John Passero, Hawthorne – 301-213-2 (.586)
Bill Donoghue, Moorestown – 300-201 (.599)
200
x-DJ Gore, Highland -295
x-Glenn Fredricks, Freehold Borough/Spotswood – 293-179 (.621)
x-Mike Policastro, Bloomfield – 293-259 (.531)
Mike Lepore, Sr., Mad.Twp./Cedar Ridge/South River – 291
x-Mike Lepore, Jr., South River – 288-309-2 (.482)
x-Ron Gavazzi, Bayley-Ellard/Montclair – 286-193-4 (.597)
x-Pete Mueller, Montgomery – 285-240 (.543)
Bob Harbison, Nutley – 284-188 (.602)
Rick Doppler, Northern Burlington – 284-192 (.597)
x-Vinnie Abene, Edison – 282-238 (.542)
x-Ken Harrison, Hopewell Valley – 278-168 (.623)
x-Carmen Spina, Rutherford – 277-124-2 (.691)
x-Dan McMaster, Cherry Hill West – 276-140-1 (.663)
Jim Muldowney, Edison – 275-75 (.786)
x-Jeff Hoover, Wayne Valley – 271-173 (.610)
Fred Cole, Old Bridge – 270-210 (.563)
x-Tom Blackwell, Ridge – 267-184, 18th yr. (.592)
x-Brian Chapman, Millburn – 266-82 (.764)
x-Brian Nice, Allentown – 266-142-2 (.652)
Phil Fiore, Lenape – 265-204 (.565)
Tony Surace, Millville – 262-170-4 (.606)
Dan Dalesandro, Pitman – 260-167 (.609)
Mike Novak, Sayreville – 257-241-2
Jim Sickinger, Kearny – 256
Ed Rieger, St. James/Pennsville – 253-71 (.781)
Bill Giglio, Ridge – 251-107 (.701)
Frank Tracey, Seton Hall Prep – 251-117 (.682)
Steve Paolini, Holy Cross – 250-132 (.654)
Bill Foley, Bloomfield – 250-149-1 (.627)
Jerry Smith Sr., JFK-Iselin – 248-119 (.676)
Jim Dietz, Summit – 243-186 (.566)
Jack Mott, Parsippany – 243
x-Joe Smith, Williamstown/Delsea – 239-115-1 (.675)
x-Mike Rooney, Don Bosco Prep – 238-75 (.760)
Fr. Stephen Kilcarr, Seton Hall Prep – 226-112-3 (.668)
x-Mike Carcich, Wood-Ridge – 226-159 (.608)
Brian Fleury, Delbarton – 223-63 (.780)
Joe Hartmann, Eastern – 223-178 (.556)
Del Dal Pra, Henry Hudson/Ocean Twp./Red Bank – 221-103 (.682)
x-Mickey Ennis, Nwk.Acad./Madison/Livingston – 220-168 (.567)
x-Rich Hans, Wildwood – 220-315-3 (.414)
Dennis Hulse, St. Mary (Ruth.) 212-89 (.704)
Jim Hunt, Englewood/Tenafly – 210-83 (.717)
x-Marc Petragnani, Cherokee – 209-142 (.595)
Chris Hoffman, Sterling – 205-191 (.524)
Mike Carter, Bloomfield – 204-130-1 (.611)
x-Chris Banos, Dunellen/Somerville – 203-105 (.659)
x-Barry Galasso, Camden County Tech – 200-353 (.362)
100
George Zanfini, Belleville – 156-59 (.726)
x-David Hoffmann, Bayonne – 156-98 (.614)
Joe Jordan, West Milford – 156-148-1 (.513)
Gabe Mosso, Bloomfield – 146-116-1 (.557)
x-Kevin Cust, Immaculata – 137-122 (.529)
x-Cory Kent, Voorhees – 136-104 (.567)
x-Doug Wear, Hanover Park – 134-69 (.660)
x-Greg Galbraith, Gloucester City – 132-113 (.539)
x-Kevin Cuozzi, Hunterdon Central – 129-35 (.787)
Bob Cleffi, South Brunswick – 125
x-Patrick Auteri, Lyndhurst – 113-72-1 (.597)
Mark Houser, Demarest – 110-97-1 (.531)
COACHES WITH .700 OR BETTER WINNING PERCENTAGE
x-Dennis Barth, Gloucester Catholic – 552-115-1 (.828)
Joe Kasberger, St. Benedict’s Prep – 593-137-3 (.812)
Tom Gambino, Immaculata – 522-133-1 (.797)
x-Kevin Cuozzi, Hunterdon Central – 129-35 (.787)
Jim Muldowney, Edison – 275-75 (.786)
x-Mike Sheppard, Jr., West Orange/Seton Hall Prep – 846-232-6 (.785)
Tony Ferrainolo, Memorial (WNY) – 754-208 (.784)
x-Brian Giallella, Notre Dame/Steinert – 474-131 (.783)
Rich Giallella, Steinert – 401-111 (.783)
Ed Rieger, St. James/Pennsville – 253-71 (.781)
Brian Fleury, Delbarton – 223-63 (.780)
x-Dennis McCaffery, Cranford – 498-143 (.777)
Al Radano, Gloucester Catholic – 351-101 (.777)
Frank Salvano, St. Joseph (Mont.) – 630-184-1 (.774)
x-Brian Chapman, Millburn – 266-82 (.764)
x-Mike Rooney, Don Bosco Prep – 238-75 (.760)
Mike Bylone, St. Augustine – 319-105 (.752)
Clary Anderson, Montclair Acad./Blair/Montclair -464-154 (.751)
Mike Raymond, Hunterdon Central – 335-115-1 (.744)
x-Sam Tropiano, St. Augustine/Bishop Eustace – 748-268-1 (.736)
x-Ken Frank, Toms River South – 929-338-3 (.733)
x-Buddy Hausmann, Red Bank Catholic – 303-111-1 (.732)
Phil Baccarella, Bayonne – 440-162 (.731)
x-Rich Horan, Audubon – 592-231-3 (.726)
George Zanfini, Belleville – 156-59 (.726)
x-Bruce Shatel, Roxbury/Delbarton – 396-152-2 (.723)
Lou Calderone, Glen Ridge – 507-199 (1971-’90; 93-98; 00-01) (.718)
x-Joe Drulis, Notre Dame (Law.) – 371-146-2 (.718)
Jim Hunt, Englewood/Tenafly – 210-83 (.717)
x-Chris Roof, Millburn/Gov. Livingston – 448-179-1 ) (.715)
Mike Zadroga, Dickinson/NBergen/HCath/CtyPrp – 611-254 (.706)
Marty Kenny, Christian Brothers Academy – 832-349 (.704Dennis Hulse, St. Mary (Ruth.) 212-89 (.704)
Dennis Hulse, St. Mary (Ruth.) – 212-89 (.704)
Vince Ardery, Notre Dame (Lawr.) – 421-178 (.703)
Gordon LeMatty, Union – 641-272-4 (.702)
John Fitzpatrick, South River – 463-197 (.702)
Greg Butler, Demarest/Don Bosco Prep – 361-153 (.702)
Bill Giglio, Ridge – 251-107 (.701)
Todd Schmitt, Wall – 403-173 (.700)
HELD ALL-TIME VICTORIES LEAD
Joe Kasberger, St. Benedict’s (Newark) – 593 (held it for 23 years, 1968-’91)
Gordon LeMatty, Union – 641
Harry Shatel, Morristown -752
Tony Ferrainolo, Memorial (WNY) – 754
Ken Frank, Toms River South – 929 (current)
Thank you to NJ.com’s Kevin Minnick, Carteret athletic director Grace Cunha and the Nelson family for provided critical information on coaches Steve Nelson and Parker Snare. And thanks to Bloomfield A.D. Steve Jenkins for his efforts in procuring the career numbers for the legendary Bill Foley.