Central Regional Taps Willie Jacobs As New Football Coach For Golden Eagles
Jacobs becomes the only African-American head coach in the Shore Conference; will be paid a stipend of $6,800, superintendent says
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Central Regional has a new head football coach for the Golden Eagles.
Willie Jacobs, a 1990 Central graduate, replaces Vincent Casale, who held the position for five years while also serving as the district’s athletic director. Casale will remain as the school’s athletic director, Superintendent Triantafillos Parlapanides said.
The 41-year old Jacobs is the only African-American head coach in the Shore Conference. He spent the last two seasons on Casale's staff as defensive coordinator, Parlapanides said.
Before coming to Central, Jacobs worked at Long Branch High School under Head Coach Dan George. Jacobs was the defensive coordinator during Long Branch’s State Championship runs and also served as an assistant coach in Franklin Township.
Willie Jacobs is a College of New Jersey graduate and former player who currently teaches health and physical education at Central Regional High School.
The Central Regional Board of Education approved Jacobs' appointment at the Feb. 28 board meeting.
Jacobs said at the board meeting that being named head coach at his alma mater is a “dream come true” and he is looking forward to building the football program.
“I am excited for Central football," Parlapanides said. "I believe Mr. Jacobs can take the momentum gained over the past several years and bring the program to a new level. I wish him, his staff and all the players a great 2013 football campaign.”
ChiefWahoo
3:57 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
How many CR players have made the NFL in history?
Lets try and be excited for scholastic achievements over athletics Dr. P.
That is why you are paid 150,000 plus benefits by the broke , underwater taxpayers.
Lets also try and see the coach as a coach and not mention his skin color. Unless there is a reason he was hired because of it. Join us Anarcho-Capitalist in the 21st century.
Karen Wall
10:19 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
Chief, the NFL comment is irrelevant. The percentage of high school football players who go on to the NFL is so small it's ridiculous.
Dr. P has spoken at length about academic programs. There are significant things happening with the Humanities Academy and the partnership with Georgian Court University. Last time I checked, neither of those have a lick to do with sports.
JHill
3:57 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
Why would Superintendent Triantafillos Parlapanides, who released this press release, feel the need to point this out?
--The 41-year old Jacobs is the only African-American head coach in the Shore Conference. --
It's 2013 and I thought we were way past this?
Rob
3:57 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
Not worth a comment.
TheGreatHoax
3:57 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
•I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
-- "I Have a Dream" speech, August 28, 1963 Martin Luther King
Tired of people being put into "little boxes". Why report this way? He's wasn't hired because of his color, but for his skill. Really insulting.
BKE
3:57 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
I think this is the most outrageous headline for "Breaking News". You should be ashamed of it. Congratulations Coach Jacobs on the appointment and good luck in 2013. To bring his race in is deplorable!!!
Maynard Ferguson
6:46 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
May I rewrite the headline?
Central Regional's Willie Jacobs Becomes the New Head Football Coach at His Alma Mater, Central Regional.
There. I guess that works. I don't personally care what race Mr. Jacobs is.
I think if you are going to stick with your headline, then the next article can say
"Peter Polski is then new Polock head coach at whatever high!"
Not necessary, is it?
Rosemarie Keslink
3:57 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
Good for you willie
The Governor
3:57 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
Why is the even news? If we are truly past racism, then this shouldn't even be an issue. More hype.
Robert Yates
3:58 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
Assuming Mr. Jacobs is a competent and good football coach, this is a fine accomplishment and worthy of commendation; however, his race is irrelevant to this accomplishment and should not have been part of the story.
Ken
6:46 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
Congratulations on getting the position and I wish him the best of luck, but why bring up his race. This should not even matter and he also is not the first ever to have been an Afrcan American head coach in the area. But again his race should not matter.
Michael Davis
6:46 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
jhILL THATS JUST WHAT i HAD THOUGHT WHY MAKE A BIG DEAL HE'S A MAN GOOD AT WHAT HE DOES NOT HIS COLOR.
Rob
6:46 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
Now you know why I had no comment. It is sickening that this guy is the Super, like everyone else ,did he have to bring in his race. Tired of this kind of puke comming out of the so called EDUCATED guy. Please BOE get rid of this Super and Good Luck to the coach and the team. I am sure the coach didn't like this either.
Rich
10:21 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
Not for nothing, there are African-Americans that are white. Unless this man was born in Africa he isn't African-American. Not to take anything away for his accomplishment, good for him, it takes someone special to be a coach, it takes someone truly special be be a great coach! The race thing is long over, why can't we as a society get over it?
ed crowley
10:20 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
How many Greek superintendents in the confrence. Should I be suprised that someone of color was hired.
JD
10:20 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
Quite frankly I'm shocked...
The only AA football Head Coach in all of Shore Conference... thats over 75 High Schools.
Not even those schools that have a majority of AA?? Asbury, Neptune, etc??
I never knew!!
Karen Wall
10:52 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
There are 46 schools in the Shore Conference, JD, 43 of them have football. And currently every other coach is white. Asbury Park and Lakewood both have had black coaches in the past. But no other school currently has one.
Bville
5:46 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013
Jackson Mem. Pt Boro, TR South have had black coaches in recent memory and I don't believe they sent our press releases patting themselves on the back. By the way Freehold Boro has a black head coach.
Karen Wall
10:19 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
The reality is that we are not "past this," as you might say. Those of you who believe racism is dead and buried are kidding yourselves. Walk around in your community and really listen to the things that are said by your neighbors and even your friends.
Are things better in this country? Yes. But racism is far from dead and gone. Want proof? Go on any website that aims for a conservative audience and you will find vicious racial slurs directed at Obama.
I am sure Jacobs was chosen because he can do the job and because he was deserving. His race matters because -- just like anyone who rises to a high-level position in any field -- his hiring as the head coach gives hope and a goal to aspire to for all of those players who are African-American as well.
Racism still exists. And it is still ugly. And that is why this matters. Until we can really bridge the gap -- rather than putting our heads in the sand about it -- we will never fix that problem.
JD
8:33 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Time for the Rooney Rule for Shore Conference!!!
Robert Yates
9:42 am on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
It is probably true that racism exists to a small degree in this country, but it is not the asinine comments made on some conservative website that have made it more and more difficult for black people to succeed. It is the misguided liberal social engineering programs that LBJ and all of his successors continue to throw out there to this very day. Their net affect is to engender reliance. Frederick Douglas asked only for freedom and to be left alone. He did not ask for food stamps, housing projects, affirmative action or any other programs that act as crutches and hence obstacles to success. Let all men and women live and die by the fruits of their own labor and innovation. Look at every slum in America and you see the imprint of two things: the loss of manufacturing jobs and the hand of failed government social engineering. When the government learns that ALL people are better off when they are left alone, equality and advancement have the best opportunity to flourish.
Petra
10:53 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013
Is Willie Jacobs another ‘friend’ of Superintendent Dr. Triantafillos Parlapanides, like the ‘friend’ who went from classroom aide to assistant principal?
sean
9:42 am on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Congratulations Mr. Jacobs. You are one of the best gym teachers ever
brokeninbayville
9:42 am on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Congrats Willie. You are a great guy. GO EAGLES!!!!
Mike
5:21 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Good man, good choice.
WMS826
8:33 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
I guess a black president twice elected does not mean anything...
Mark Wendell
12:56 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
I agree with JD and I thank Karen Wall for the info. While I wish it did not have to be pointed out I'm glad it was because it is shocking that out of 43 Shore Conf schools he is the only African American head coach currently at the helm. I wish him the best of luck and am glad to see a grad in place. Having a grad of the programs has worked wonders with the Lakewood basketball and football programs, for example.
KC
1:27 am on Thursday, March 14, 2013
Good ole boy network alive and well. If a woman were appointed to any position it would not be newsworthy. This district regularly and systematically engages in unfair hiring practices and refuses to hire anyone but entry level personnel, so why would a focus on race shock anyone?
George
10:53 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013
I think the record is 20 and 68 in the last nine years.