New Montclair Athletic Director
Works To Reshape Coaching Staff

MONTCLAIR- Matt Belford was well aware of the expectations when he agreed to accept his new position as Montclair’s athletic director, a post he has assumed since February, and now six months into the job he is continuing to go full steam ahead in reshaping at least a good portion of the Mounties’ coaching staff.

Due to retirements or resignations for family and personal reasons, MHS will have new head coaches in field hockey, girls tennis, girls gymnastics and girls soccer this fall, while the search process continues to find a new head girls basketball coach for next winter and also a new softball coach the 2026 spring campaign.

“We have expectations of Montclair being a top 10 athletic program in every sport,” said Belford, a former high school and college baseball coach, who was briefly the AD at Hightstown. “That’s why I took this job and the charge from my (school) administration is to get us back to where we used to be in many sports.

“Coaching is almost a year-round commitment and it involves more than just the season you’re in for a few months.

“There are so many different facets in being a head coach today at a Group 4 school and when you’re talking about keeping up with the Ridgewoods, Westfields and Ramapos of the world – who have successful teams across the board – we’re expecting that the men and women leading the teams at Montclair High School to not just coach from September to November or December, or from December through February, or from April to June, but also to do the necessary things that help the program in the off-season, including in the weight room, promoting participation in summer leagues and camps when possible, and also helping student-athletes navigate all that’s involved in considering continuing one’s athletic career in college.”

Guy Rabner (boys and girls tennis), Ashley Hammond (girls soccer) and Jermain Johnson have all resigned their coaching positions, while Mary Pat Mercuro (field hockey) retired after last fall’s campaign. Among those leading the Mounties this fall are Tara Charkow (girls tennis), Rob McOmish (girls soccer), Ron Anello (football), Michelle Hagel (field hockey) and Chris Haines (gymnastics).

Looking at the winter season, Eddie Connell has resigned as girls basketball coach, a position Belford is looking to fill shortly.

In terms of the spring sports, Kim Koldony has resigned as girls lacrosse coach in order to spend more time with her growing family, while Mike Goldstein will be replaced as the Mounties softball coach after guiding MHS to a fine 21-7 record and a Super Essex Conference-Liberty Division championship.

“Mike is a very good person, and I certainly like what the team accomplished this past season,” said Belford. “However, we just felt after discussing everything involving the year-round development of the softball program that it was time to move in another direction.” 

Tara Schnell, who also helps veteran coach Ed Koenigsfest in guiding the Mountie swimming team in the winter, and is an assistant gymnastics coach in the fall, will also return as the Mounties head golf coach next spring.

Mercuro retired from her field hockey position last fall after a stellar coaching career at MHS that included 31 seasons at the helm and 457 wins, with Hagel, who is a former standout player at field hockey state titan West Essex, serving as one of her assistant coaches, and who is now ready to assume the head coaching role for the Mountie stickers in 2025.

“For sports like field hockey, where Mary Pat had a great connection with the community in order to keep the new players coming in, and in soccer where both our boys and girls teams have such a great feeder system in town, those sports have continued to maintain a high degree of success from year to year,” said Belford. “Now, Michelle takes the baton and is ready to work with continuing to build on the solid foundation that Mary Pat had developed for so many years.”

Hammond, who has been a longtime soccer coach in town, including with stints coaching high school at both MHS and with the Montclair Kimberley Academy boys, has had other commitments in the sport which have taken up much more of his time.

Returning McOmish to a familiar role in heading the Mounties girls soccer program once again was a ‘no-brainer’ for Belford as the longtime MHS teacher returns to a post he had much success in a decade ago, including guiding the Mounties to multiple Essex County Tournament championships the program’s first and only overall Group 4 state title in 2014.

“Having Rob back to guide our girls soccer team is a huge plus,” stated Belford. “He is a very experienced coach with a great deal of knowledge in how to run a successful program.”

Veteran Mountie fall season head coaches getting ready for the start of pre-season practice in August are Toure Weaver in boys soccer, Daryl Washington in cross country and Pam Reilly in girls volleyball.

Ryan Corbosiero (wrestling), Cecil Stinson (boys basketball), Connor Smith (ice hockey) are slated to be back to lead their respective teams in for the winter season.

Spring season coaches also returning include longtime baseball co-coaches Ron Gavazzi and Anthony Genchi, boys lacrosse coach Mike Diehl, Reilly with boys volleyball, and Washington with the track and field program.

“We have a very good group of coaches already on hand, and we’re simply looking to build on that area of strength with the new hires we’re making,” said Belford. “The Montclair community has so much to offer in terms of talented young athletes and great interest from parents and the many high school sports fans, and the coaches need to continue to stay connected with all that’s involved with their sport.”

NOTES- The Mounties’ first football game on Aug. 29, originally slated to be played at home, had to be moved to St. Thomas Aquinas’ field in Edison because of some final approvals in terms of insurance certification that have to be completed regarding the many improvements that have been done at Woodman Field, which include brand new bleachers on the home side along with a modern press box.…Other developments include implementing a new electronic ticketing process for sporting events….Belford also said that there are hopes to roll out a Mounties girls wrestling team, noting that there were nine girls on last year’s co-ed team coached by Ryan Corbosiero…Another relatively new sport, girls flag football, continues to grow in interest during the spring season at MHS behind coaches Phil Dortch and Cecil Stinson. Stinton is already a familiar face as the Mounties boys basketball coach.