By Kevin Coughlin
John Power has a strong football resume: Program coordinator at the University of Georgia, recruitment coordinator for Penn State, championship high school quarterback, head coaching stints at Hillside and Columbia high schools.
But that alone was not why he edged out nearly 40 applicants to become Morristown High School’s next football coach, MHS Athletic Director Smitty Horton said on Monday.
“The X’s and O’s, he knows about them. But there’s more to it than that. He’s someone we wanted in the building, to follow up with students year-round,” said Horton.
Power’s commitment to players’ personal development is similar to the passion exhibited by Chris Hull, who is stepping down after 28 years as a high school coach–including the last 11 leading Morristown–to spend more time with his family, Horton said.
In addition to his coaching duties, Power will work as a special education teacher at the high school. The Berkeley Heights native earned a master’s degree in special ed from New Jersey City University. He majored in political science at the University of Georgia.
Although Power’s official starting date is July 1, 2016, he already has met with Colonials players and checked out their weight-training sessions, Horton said.
In two seasons at Columbia High School in Maplewood, Power took the Cougars from a 1-9 record to a playoff berth.
He comes to Morristown just as the Colonials are moving into a reconfigured conference that will pit them against larger schools such as Columbia, West Orange and Westfield.
“I’m looking forward to us competing hard,” Horton said.
‘JERSEY-GUY TOUGHNESS’
Dave Chmiel, who covered Power at Columbia High School for The Village Green, predicted Power and his coaches will turn around Morristown’s squad, which went 3-7 in 2015.
“John Power is a tremendous football coach,” Chmiel said. “He instilled in the Columbia Cougars program a dedication to the details, hard work, and a team-centric approach that is integral to success in football or any sport, or any walk of life, for that matter.”
While Columbia High, like Morristown, loses key players to prep schools and parochial leagues, Chmiel said Power “meshed the top talent that stayed and developed the raw prospects who gave football a try.
“His Jersey-guy toughness and experience playing in college’s best conference, the SEC, while he was at the University of Georgia, is an inspiration for any high school football player who dreams of playing in college or the NFL.”
The sports correspondent said he felt bad for players from Maplewood and South Orange who had counted on playing for Power at Columbia High.
“Power possesses the tactical skills that finally gave Columbia the chance to believe that the high school was building a program, not merely fielding a football team. He took the ‘X’s and O’s’ skills and matched them with the leadership traits that allowed the boys to truly focus on the team instead of worrying merely about themselves,” Chmiel said.
‘VERY HARD TO REPLACE’
A search committee at MHS interviewed almost 20 finalists before choosing Power, Horton said. It came down to “his ability to communicate, and his passion for students in the classroom, as well as on the field,” said the athletic director, who assumed his post last year.
Power’s experience as a college football recruiter helped, too.
“That extra ability to connect our students to colleges also is important,” Horton acknowledged.
Power will select some members of his coaching staff, while others from last season will continue, Horton said. Hull is a teacher at MHS, and though he won’t have any formal ties to the football team, Horton said he would not be surprised if Hull shares his insights with the new coach.
Under Hull, the Colonials won a state title in 2010, along with two conference championships and six playoff appearances.
“He’s a very charismatic, passionate person,” Horton said. “Students really love Coach Hull. He will be very hard to replace. Students feel he would do anything for them.”
The Morristown High School Football Boosters echoed those sentiments.
“Coach Hull has always supported the boys in every aspect of their lives,” Boosters Co-Presidents Eileen Burke and Randi Unger said in a statement.
“He worked to develop them not only as football players but also as students and citizens. Coach Hull had a wonderful rapport with his players and we are appreciative of his years of service to Morristown Football.”
The Boosters also expressed excitement about the John Power era.
“He brings a lot of experience and enthusiasm to the table and in the short time since he’s accepted the position, he has been working hard with parents and students to establish a strong foundation for the upcoming season. The boys and coaches will have a lot of work to do to ramp up for the season and we know everyone is up for the challenge.”
Morristown opens at home on Sept. 10 against Roxbury.
