How a former high school football star became a head coach at 23 years old

MORRISTOWN – Six years ago, Tahj Valentine was a decorated senior running back at Morristown Beard, helping the Crimson finish 4-4.

He left for Stonehill College in Massachusetts, not expecting to return to New Jersey anytime soon.

But life doesn't always work out the way you expect.

At 23 years old, Valentine is now the head coach at Morristown Beard. He's believed to be the youngest varsity head coach in the state, and he's also the school's first Black head coach.

His team is quickly finding success and has a 5-2 record heading into the final regular season game, Saturday at Brooklyn's Poly Prep (3-3). The Crimson haven't won six games in a season since 2014.

“We’re moving in the right direction. We were 3-6 last year and we’re showing improvement,” Valentine said. “I learn something new every week. After every game, I have a chance to look back and see what happened and what could have been different. If you’re not uncomfortable, you’re not going to grow.”

Journey back to New Jersey

During his college football career at Stonehill, Valentine mainly played as a gunner for the special teams unit. As the team’s primary man downfield on punt returns, his main responsibility was to beat his man and eventually thwart the punt returner’s progress.

In 2021, Valentine’s world was upended when, on a punt return, he was hit so hard on a blindside block to the right side of his head that he injured the entire left side of his body and suffered temporary paralysis.

“I don’t remember much from that game except for what the trainers and coaches told me," Valentine said. "I do remember waking up in the ambulance and not being able to feel my entire left side.

“It was a scary feeling of uncertainty. ‘Would I be able to walk and move again?’ Would I be able to play football again?’ A lot ran through my mind while at the hospital. But I knew that my life and plans had changed.”

Valentine suffered significant shoulder and knee injuries, both of which required several surgeries, and the paralysis subsided. While recovering at the hospital, he knew a return to football was still an option, but figured his days of rough-and-tumble were over.

Instead, Valentine considered returning to the Garden State. He had become a certified first responder and firefighter in Morris Township while in high school, and thought that could be his life's calling.

Getting into coaching

One day last year, after a morning interview for a firefighter position in Morris Township, Valentine decided to swing by his alma mater. He ended up spending four hours there.

The next day, his old coach, Tim Fell, asked him to join the Morristown Beard coaching staff as a running backs coach. He was also hired as the school's associate director of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

“It was a quick five-year turnaround. I did not think I was going to be back at Morristown Beard,” he said. “When you're a high school student, you're like, 'I'm free, I'm graduating, I'm going into the world.' It was the same way for me. I thought I was going to go out to Massachusetts, play some ball for four years, and get a job out there. I never imagined I’d be back.”

Following one season as an assistant coach Valentine was elevated to the head coaching position last May after Fell stepped down.

“It was important to throw my name in the ring and apply for the head job,” Valentine said. “My family has a lot of history at the school and I’m a proud alumni. I grew up in Morristown and played flag football here. My dad, Greg, was a standout running back here and so was my brother Malik who graduated in 2013.

"I was a water boy for the Crimson, turned head coach. I’m grateful to Coach Fell and what he’s done for me and my family, and grateful for the opportunity. It all says a lot of what Morristown Beard thinks about me.”

After getting the Morristown Beard job, Valentine's first order of business was building a staff in time for the start of minicamp in mid-June. He was able to retain three coaches from the previous year: defensive coordinator Tom Struble, line coach Kevin Meany, and special teams coordinator Joe DeKasar. He then brought in Robert Rollo, formerly of Montclair Immaculate, to run the offense.

“Collectively, the coaching staff has many years of experience," Valentine said. "It was important to have coaches that instill life lessons with the kids and that point them in the right direction. There’s kids on this team that may never play football beyond high school. There’s life after football and they have to be ready for the future and what life brings.”

Looking ahead

Morristown Beard does not participate in the NJSIAA playoffs, instead competing in the Metropolitan Independent Football League, which consists of private schools from New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. Montclair Kimberley, Newark Academy and Pingry are the other New Jersey schools in the league.

The Crimson made the move to the MIFL in 2016 after some challenging years in the NJSIAA. The MIFL holds its own playoff, which begins on Oct. 28. Morristown Beard could be one of the top seeds in the playoff if it beats defending champion Poly Prep this weekend.

“The league fits who we are. It’s competitive football with a lot of talent,” Valentine said. “Though I would say the goal is to eventually get back into the Super Football Conference and NJSIAA at some point. We have work to do for that to happen. But the program is gaining traction and interest is high.”

Forty-five players turned out for summer workouts before the season, the most in school history. Thirteen freshman are on the varsity roster, along with 13 sophomores. None of the freshmen had played tackle football before.

Just a few years older than many of his players, Valentine is sharing his experiences and empowering the next generation.

“It’s all about mindset, behavior and strength. That’s what my philosophy is built on and what we teach here every day,” Valentine said. “There’s times when I see death and tragedy as a firefighter and then have to be at school the next morning. Teaching and mentoring resets me and it gives me motivation and assurance that life is good. When I look back at my journey, I’m thankful, in a way, I got injured. That’s what put me here.”

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Tahj Valentine: 23-year-old Morristown Beard football coach