Veteran Westfield football coach replacing longtime athletic director
Westfield High School will lose pillars in two key athletic roles come July 1, but one of them will return in a new position.
Longtime athletic director Sandra Mamary will retire and be replaced by veteran football coach and vice principal Jim DeSarno. DeSarno, head coach for the Blue Devils since 2006, has resigned his football post. He held a meeting late last week to inform his returning players.
A new football coach has not been named, but Mamary said the position has already drawn a lot of interest since the opening was posted.
Westfield has a terrific football legacy dating back to its first season in 1897. Mamary said that late Westfield iconic football and wrestling coach Gary Kehler was an “incredible’ mentor in her development as an educator.
“I wanted to go out on top, it’s been a long time,” said Mamary, 61, who spent the past 37 years in the district, including the last 14 as AD. “It wasn't a decision made right off the hip.
“I love what I do, but I kind of want some Saturdays and holidays back. I’m really, really gonna miss the kids. I just love being around the kids; they keep you young, they are exciting, and I love the energy they bring,” added Mamary, who lives in Westfield.
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DeSarno replaced longtime coach Ed Tranchina and worked as physical education teacher and football coach when he was hired. He became a vice principal in 2013.
When DeSarno became coach of the Blue Devils, they were coming off back-to-back 1-9 seasons. He said the 2006 team – his first – holds a special place. That team went 6-4, but that was just the beginning.
His teams went 122-62 in his 18 seasons, with 14 of them being winning campaigns. His reign was highlighted by three straight 12-0 seasons between the 2015-17, each ending in North 2, Group 5 state championships. They won 37 straight games.
Being athletic director and football coach wasn’t an option. He said the idea is to make it a full-fledged commitment to the new role. That wouldn’t have been possible to do both jobs.
“It’s been very hard (decision to make), it’s been very emotional, and I’m not over that yet. I've been coaching high school sports for 34 years – 17 here – and I’ve been a head coach for 23 you know, so it’s not easy,” said DeSarno, who’ll turn 55 in September. “I didn't know this was going to happen. I've been preparing for this (upcoming) season as hard as any other.”
DeSarno was a standout lineman at Montclair State University and Pompton Lakes High School, from which he graduated in 1987. He was an assistant coach at Pompton Lakes, Barringer, Rutherford and Linden before becoming head coach at Kinnelon. He was there for five seasons before being hired at Westfield.
He said staying at Westfield was paramount in his decision. He and wife Tracey live in Somerville and have a son, Michael, and daughters Jessica and Riley. All three played sports at Somerville, with Riley currently a junior softball standout who also letters in soccer and basketball.
“I get to stay in a building I love and love working in,” said DeSarno. “This opportunity came up, and just in terms of where I stand in my career and future it was just hard to pass up. I’m grateful that I went through the process and was offered the position. Just being able to stay here was the biggest factor for me.”
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ veteran Westfield football coach replacing longtime AD
