Coming off first winning season since 2015, Indian Hills hires new football coach
Dan Marangi wasn’t out of work long.
Just a month after stepping away from St. Joseph Regional, Marangi was approved as the new head football coach at Indian Hills by the Ramapo Indian Hills Board of Education on Monday night.
Marangi won 24 games in four years with the Green Knights but failed to bring home a state title. This will be his first coaching job at a public school.
“I think the timing was right,” Marangi said. “It’s always a job that piqued my interest. There is a lot of great things about Indian Hills. I think it’s one of the most intriguing jobs that was out there. It’s a great opportunity to put a stamp on something.”
Indian Hills is part of a unique district where kids in Franklin Lakes, Wyckoff and Oakland have the choice to attend either Indian Hills or Ramapo, regardless of where they live.
Ramapo has long boasted a successful football program, reaching the Group 4 state final in 2023, while Indian Hills has never won a sectional title.
“I think there’s enough kids to go around for both schools to be good,” said Marangi, who grew up in Franklin Lakes. “My focus will be on building Indian Hills. We will have a lot to offer student athletes who want to be part of something special. I think kids will have a good choice, either a place with an established program or a place on the rise.”
It will be a different feel for Marangi, who has coached North Jersey non-public schools throughout his career. He leaves one of the most competitive divisions in the country for the Super Football Conference’s Ivy Division, which is made up of schools trying to grow participation numbers and maintain competitiveness. Schools in the Ivy Division forego eligibility for the state playoffs to compete for an Ivy Division title.
The Braves went 5-4 last year under coach Dom Mulieri. It was their first winning season since 2015.
“I think you just get back to basics,” Marangi said. “I think the community as whole loves athletics and wants to see both programs be successful. I met with some schools in the league about assistant jobs and I talked to a college, weighing everything, and this was the best fit and the best time. It’s going to be a fun challenge.”
Marangi said he had no hard feelings toward St. Joe’s, saying the hardest part was leaving the program and the kids he got to know. He said whoever gets the Green Knights job, which remains unfilled, would be getting a ‘Ferrari’ ready to win a state title.
At St. Joe’s, Marangi brought in Brian Gibbs, son of former Ramapo coach Drew Gibbs, to be his offensive coordinator and install the Gibbs offense. For Brian to coach at Indian Hills would be a big change. Marangi said Brian is considering multiple options.
Marangi said he’s already watched tape of the Braves to learn their personnel. He plans on remaining at St. Joe’s as a teacher. He will be officially introduced at Indian Hills on Thursday.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Indian Hills NJ football: Dan Marangi hired as new coach
