Quantcast
Channel: Varsity Aces » Teaneck
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 16

Scoops on Football: Clark Takes Over at Teaneck

0
0
Photo courtesy of Teaneck Athletic Department. Wednesday night the Teaneck BOE approved Harold Clark (above) as the Highwaymen's new football coach.

Photo courtesy of Teaneck Athletic Department.
Wednesday night the Teaneck BOE approved Harold Clark (above) as the Highwaymen’s new football coach.

Before I get into the football news and my interview with Coach Clark, I must say I don’t ever remember this many area teams playing in the state basketball finals. You realize, there are only like 24 teams left playing basketball at this stage total in the entire state (checking math, yes, 24) and North Jersey has 6? That’s 25 percent – Eastside, Bergenfield for boys, Old Tappan, Westwood, IC and IHA for girls. And people think North Jersey basketball isn’t very good. Just saying.
But let’s talk about some football news, because, you know what, there is always football news. We now have 5 coaching openings left in North Jersey – Pal Park/Leonia, Bogota, Clifton, Emerson and Englewood. I think Pal Park/Leonia will be announced next week. Bogota next month.
In the meantime, Teaneck has found its man.

Of course, the first thing one has to talk about in this situation is that Harold Clark is the 3rd coach in as many years for Teaneck. Dan Henry was the Highwaymen coach in 2013, finishing 1-9. When Teaneck hired Joe Purcella, it seemed like a nice fit, a young talented coach and a program looking for some direction. For whatever reason, it just didn’t work out. Teaneck again finished 1-9.

So now Harold Clark moves in as the head coach, I chatted with Clark for about 20 minutes yesterday. He’s 51, a police detective in Teaneck (I think he said he’s been a detective for the last 17 years). When I brought up the 3 coaches in 3 years things, Clark just said, “it’s crazy.” Then he talked about how his first goal is to instill discipline in his team. He also said he wasn’t planning on going anywhere else.
“I am hoping to be there for the long term,” said Clark. “I have 4 more years at the police department before I can retire and I won’t have anything else to do. I hope to be there for the long run.”
Clark certainly has the coaching background. He was a standout at Hackensack HS (and yes, he said it’s odd on Thanksgiving to be on the Teaneck sidelines, not Hackensack) graduating in 1982 where he ran track and played football. He went on to do both at Montclair State and is a member of the Hackensack HS athletic Hall of Fame.
He worked in the Teaneck youth football program for 17 years (working with St. Peter’s Prep star Brandon Wimbush among others). He has two boys, one, Harold Jr. graduated from Teaneck in 2011 and was a football player. Another son is a freshman.
Purcella got Clark involved with the Teaneck HS program knowing his connection to the town youth program, asking him to coach the freshman team. Clark guided the squad to a 5-3 record, after the team was winless the previous two seasons.
Clark said that he was going to try to model the Teaneck program like a college program. He envisions tutoring sessions for his football players administered by honor students at Teaneck. He said that it’s a win-win situation, the honors kids can get community service hours, and his kids can keep their grades up.
He said in Teaneck it is his goal to get every senior football player a chance to play in college, meaning that any kid who goes into his program won’t/can’t be turned down because of his grades.
“Education is number 1 for me,” said Clark. “My motto has always been family, school, and then football.”
He said he was putting the finishing touches on his staff, and that he was actively recruiting volunteers in town to come help with the team. He said he wanted to have a coach for every position, but that he would be the offensive coordinator.
I asked him about never being a varsity head coach before.
“My biggest experience, instead of being a head coach, is being able to deal with people. I am good at dealing with people from all levels. I’ve done presentations at schools and mentoring programs. I did it through football at the youth program and we started to become good and that’s how these doors opened for me.”
I asked him about not being at Teaneck HS full-time, but he said that he is there at least three times a week. He’s been in the weight room working with the team since December.
Again, I must point out how noble and honorable it is for a community servant like Clark to keep giving back to his community as a football coach.
Clark said he was planning to meet with the team next week, and then, meet with all the parents so he could explain his expectations.
As for on the field? He said he wants to try to be at least .500 next season and build on some of the young talent in the program.
“Teaneck has always had good athletes, I need to instill disciple in all my players, I expect them to be on time and be positive representatives of the high school and the athletic program.”


Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 16

Latest Images

Trending Articles





Latest Images