Verderosa is new AD at Raritan High School

BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

John Verderosa, who steered the Manalapan High School wrestling team to the top of the Shore Conference, is the new athletic director at Raritan High School.

Verderosa, who takes over the position on Jan. 2, replaces the retired Wayne Ramsey.

“It’s a perfect situation for me,” said Verderosa. “I knew because of my involvement in coaching that one day I’d like to be an athletic director.

“It’s something I had to do for my career and my family,” he added.

To prepare for the likelihood, Verderosa, who spent 16 years at Manalapan, the last 11 as the head wrestling coach, went back to school and did his graduate work at New Jersey City University earning a supervisor’s certification.

Because Manalapan is an A North Division school and Raritan, A Central Division, the Braves and Rockets didn’t cross very often.

“There’s a lot for me to learn,” Verderosa said. “I do know that they [Raritan] can compete with any school at any level. They have good coaches and good athletes who are always prepared. They are hard, tough, coachable kids.

“The Raritan community is very pro-athletic,” he added. “What I have to offer is hard work and my work experience. I take a lot of pride in being fair.”

In addition to overseeing one of the county’s most successful wrestling programs, Verderosa was the head coach of the baseball program and an assistant coach in football. He also the headed the physical education department at Manalapan (he’ll be the physical education supervisor at Raritan).

Verderosa coached two baseball players who went on to play professionally, pitcher Jason Bergmann and infielder Mike DeJesus. Bergmann is a long-relief pitcher for the Washington Nationals.

Without a doubt, Verderosa left his biggest mark on the wrestling program. He inherited a program that had a tradition of success and he maintained it, taking it to the top once again.

“I’m really happy I kept the program where it was,” he said. “I’m pleased with all the efforts I got from my wrestlers. You have to give them a lot of credit.

“I owe a lot to assistant coaches like Arnie Lifland and Cary Broad,” he added. “The administration was supportive. It takes everyone to be successful.”

The high-water mark was 2003 when the Braves won the Shore Conference Tournament, a feat that had only been accomplished among Monmouth County schools by the Manalapan teams of 1981 and ’82.

“The SCT, that was the pinnacle point of my coaching career,” he said.

Verderosa coached 30 NJSIAA District 21 champions, eight Region winners and seven state place-winners, led by runner-up Nick Manochio. His overall record was 137-57-2.

While looking forward to his new position and challenges, Verderosa does know that he will miss game-night coaching.

“I won’t miss worrying whether someone will make weight or if everyone has their uniforms,” he said. “What I’ll miss is that contagious feeling coaches have of getting your team prepared for a big match and the glory when you are victorious.”