Vineland football gets its man in Jose Guzman
Jose Guzman got into coaching to make a difference with young student-athletes.
And some of those players helped Guzman get a much-deserved promotion.
After 10 years as an assistant coach with the Vineland High School football program, Guzman will get his shot as a head coach.
Guzman, 45, was approved by the Vineland Board of Education to become the 18th head coach in VHS history Thursday night, becoming the program's first new boss in over a decade and taking over for Dan Russo, who stepped down during the winter.
“Our kids are pumped and so am I,” said the always-upbeat Guzman, who breathes positivity into every conversation. “Coach (Dan) Russo built something from the ground up here. He built a culture of family. And that’s what we really are: a family.
“It’s our job to keep that going and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Two weeks ago, the Vineland Board of Education was scheduled to vote on another candidate for the head coach position. Before the vote, several past and present players from the program addressed the BOE, expressing their support of Guzman.
“It sparked a lot of emotion,” said Guzman, who watched that BOE meeting on YouTube with his family. “It was an up-and-down rollercoaster. Those young men showed a tremendous amount of courage and as that particular event unfolded, I felt like a little kid again. There is no money in the world that can give you that feeling.”
The first candidate wasn’t approved and Guzman’s name was submitted for a special meeting that was held on Thursday.
Guzman said he is ready for the challenges that being the head football coach in Vineland brings, but will never lose sight on what the real priority of the job is.
“The main focus is always on our kids,” Guzman said. “As long as I kept my kids the focal point, everything seems to work out.
“That’s why we get into teaching, that’s the mentorship of coaching. The program goes well beyond just the football aspect. It’s about building young men. They are our future.”
Guzman’s resume
Guzman was a four-year starter at Hammonton, playing on two state championship teams before graduating in 1996. He played collegiately at The College of New Jersey where he was part of two NJAC title winning teams.
Guzman, who is bilingual, has worked as a physical education teacher in the school district for 22 years. He has also coached other sports at VHS, including the freshman boys’ basketball team.
“Coach Guz approached me during my first year at Vineland and asked ‘You got room for me on the coaching staff?’ and I told him ‘I’ll make room for you’,” Russo said. “He’s a perfect fit for this program. He checks all the boxes. He has that attitude, drive and commitment to the program that a head coach needs. I’ve never heard one bad word about him.”
What’s ahead
Vineland is coming off three straight losing seasons, including a 3-9 mark last fall that ended with a 35-16 loss to Millville on Thanksgiving.
The Fighting Clan will be without Daniel Russo, a rising junior who has transferred to Delsea. He led the team in rushing (1,118 yards) and passing (846) last season.
Tyrell Powell returns a standout two-way player at wide receiver and defensive back and Zha’ Vian Diaz, who led the team with three interceptions on defense is back. Powell is a rising senior and Diaz will be a junior.
Guzman’s coaching staff is expected to have two former NFL players as key assistants: Dwayne Hendricks and Clifton Smith, both of whom worked with the program in the past.
Looking back
Russo took over a program that was in shambles when he was hired at his alma mater in 2013. He compiled a 42-60 record over the next 10 seasons, including the program’s first two playoff victories in its history.
Russo led Vineland to three winning seasons, including back-to-back 8-2 campaigns in 2016-17. The program had just one winning season in 21 seasons prior to Russo’s leadership. Russo’s squads featured two future NFL players in Jamil Demby and Super Bowl champ Isiah “Pop” Pacheco.
“I’m proud of what we were able to accomplish,” Russo said. “Definitely beating the orange team (Millville) four years in a row, the two playoff wins and a conference championship. Those are the three big things I’ll remember.”
Tom McGurk is a regional sports editor for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and Burlington County Times, covering South Jersey sports for over 30 years. If you have a sports story that needs to be told, contact him at (856) 486-2420 or email tmcgurk@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @McGurkSports. Help support local journalism with a digital subscription.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Vineland football has new head coach in Jose Guzman
