A slap in the face to a Brick legend

Afew words come to mind to describe Superintendent of Schools Walter J. Hrycenko's recent treatment of Warren Wolf, the only football coach Brick Township High School has ever had.

"Lousy" is one of them. "Incomprehensible" and "shameful" are several others.

Those words could also apply to the treatment dedicated assistant football coaches like Len Zdanowicz and Timothy Osborne have received, after they labored faithfully by Wolf's side for years.

There's no way to explain why Hrycenko and the board seem to have settled on Patrick Dowling, an outsider who has no connection to the proud Green Dragons tradition at all.

And Hrycenko's statements at the April 30 Board of Education meeting that he thinks his recommendation of Dowling is "what is best for Brick Township High School football" makes no sense at all.

What would have made sense would have been to abide by the recommendations of the district's two high school principals and two athletic directors, who all recommended Zdanowicz and Osborne.

What would have made sense would have been to pick a coach the boys are familiar with. Hrycenko and the school board members should have sat down with Wolf and asked for his advice before making their decision.

B

ut they didn't. They never

asked for his input. And they have thrown the Brick Township High School football team and parents' organization into turmoil by picking Dowling, who may bring in his own coaching staff.

Dowling, whom Wolf described as a "gentleman," has worked at eight schools during his career. He leaves Allentown High School with a 2-8 record.

He's not, as Wolf also said, any Vince Lombardi.

And those who say Wolf should go quietly, that it's none of his business, are dead wrong.

They are talking about the man who can remember every season, every boy he ever coached. Wolf and his wife, Peggy, opened their home to the players every week. The boys ate home-baked brownies and watched films of the previous week's game.

Warren Wolf has gracefully coached himself into state history, with an unmatched record of 361-122-11. It's safe to say it's a record that won't be broken anytime soon, if ever.

He had one request when he announced his retirement in December. He wanted someone with ties to Brick Township. He wanted someone who loves Brick football as much as he does.

He and his assistant coaches deserve much better treatment than they have gotten.

And if, as Wolf suggests, politics played a part in this decision, shame on school officials again.

The Board of Education can still do the right thing. They can bypass Hrycenko's recommendation and pick a Brick boy.

There's no excuse not to.