Board hires Dowling after tumultuous public meeting

Despite the last-minute appeals by Warren H. Wolf, parents and students, the Board of Education stood by its man and unanimously hired Patrick C. Dowling as the new head coach of the Brick Township High School football team.

Hundreds turned out at a special May 14 meeting to express their anger at Dowling's impending appointment. Many pleaded with board members to reject Superintendent of Schools Walter Hrycenko's recommendation and to reconsider Len Zdanowicz, an assistant coach under Wolf for the past 12 years, for the position.

Those opposed to Dowling's appointment have questioned his record as a head coach, the number of schools he's coached at in his career, his lack of familiarity with the Brick Township High School football tradition, and his lack of ties to Brick Township.

"He's a great guy, but don't tell me he's a great coach," said Wolf, who retired in December after 51 years as the high school's only football coach. "He's 42-74. He's been at six schools in 17 years."

Dowling comes to Brick from Allentown High School, where he was a special education teacher/chairperson and head football coach for a single year, with a 2-8 record.

The only school where he had a winning record as head football coach was Monroe Township High School, where he went 23- 18. Dowling has also been a head coach at Fort Lee High School, Woodridge High School and Belleville High School as well as an assistant coach at Neptune High School.

In addition to his head-coaching responsibilities, which will pay him roughly $7,668 annually, Dowling will also earn an estimated $74,525 in 2009-10 as a special education teacher.

Many in the public also criticized the board for the way it had treated Wolf, New Jersey's winningest coach with a record of 361-122-11. Brick Township High School won six state championships, 31 division titles and had eight undefeated seasons under Wolf's direction.

Wolf's only request when he retired was that the school board hire someone with ties to Brick Township.

"Why are you disrespecting the man who has done so much for this town and this school?" said Lakeland Drive resident Fred Worman. "Coach Wolf has always been faithful to Brick Township. You should try it."

Jib Circle resident Scott Lloyd said that Wolf instilled honor, respect and moral integrity in all the boys he coached.

"Unless you've been a part of this program or been around it, you don't really understand what it is all about," Lloyd said. "It's preparation for life."

"All I know is that you don't support local people," Wolf said. "People who live in this town should come first. I'm disappointed. I love this town. I love this team. I'm not proud of what you're doing."

Wolf then went on to say that Zdanowicz knows the principles, strengths and weaknesses of the team, since he played for BTHS and has coached the team for the last 12 years.

Zdanowicz, a freshman physical education teacher, also works with the high school's internal suspension program and runs the football team's off-season conditioning program.

"You're telling Coach Z that he's not good enough, but I stand 100 percent behind Lenny Z," Wolf said.

Wolf recently rescinded his resignation after he learned that Dowling, and not Zdanowicz, would most likely be his successor at BTHS.

However, Hrycenko declined to accept Wolf's offer to come back for another year.

"It's a pretty sad day in Brick Township," former school board President Sharon Kight said. "I never thought anybody would see the day when someone would turn Warren Wolf away from the football field."

After listening to the public for almost two hours, the board voted 6-0 to hire Dowling. Board member Len Cuppari abstained from the vote because he works in the Howell school district where Dowling was just elected to the Board of Education.

"Mr. Dowling brings experience, knowledge and heart to a team that has always exhibited tradition and pride," Hrycenko said at the end of the meeting. "It's tough enough to replace a legend. We hope that you will show Mr. Dowling a warm welcome. This is a time to heal."

Dowling earned a Bachelor of Science from Springfield College, Massachusetts, and a master's degree from New Jersey City University, according to a Board of Education press release.

"The opportunity to become only the second head football coach at Brick Township High School is both exciting and most desirable," Dowling said in the press release. "It is an honor to be chosen for the position and I look forward to the task of bringing this storied program another State Championship."