Newark Academy's director of admissions Willy Taylor spent three seasons as the head football coach at the Livingston-based private school before deciding to step aside this past spring as ex-Caldwell assistant Steve Trivino has taken over the reins of the Minutemen. (Sideline Chatter photos)

Willy Taylor's 2008 and 2009 Newark Academy teams each finished at 1-9

Ex-Coach Remains Supporter
Of Newark Academy Football
By Steve Tober
For sidelinechatter.com

After 18 years at Immaculate Conception where he had enjoyed much success as a top assistant to John Finnegan with some of the better Lion gridiron squads of the 1990s, Willy Taylor knew he would have some very big challenges ahead when he took over the reins of the Newark Academy football program in 2007.

The admissions director at the Livingston-based private school compiled a 5-25 record in three seasons at the helm of the NA gridiron fortunes and just felt it was time for someone else to give it a try of turning around the Minutemen football program.

“I just wasn’t the right fit and I felt the program needed a fresh start, with a new vision,” said the 42-year-old Taylor. “I think (new coach) Steve Trivino will do a great job and the time was now to go in a different direction.”

But, despite the fact he is off the sidelines for the first time in 21 years, Taylor remains one of Newark Academy’s biggest football supporters.

“I really want to see the football program succeed, but it also requires building it up with the right type of kids, who are also ready for the rigors of a very competitive academic setting,’ said the NA school administrator. “As admissions director at the school I will try in all my power not to do a disservice to a kid who we don’t feel can’t succeed academically here.

“When we come across the young man who demonstrates the potential to be able to do what is necessary both on and off the field, all the power to him, and we want him for Newark Academy.”

As is the case for comparable small private schools, such as The Montclair Kimberley Academy, Dwight-Englewood, Pingry and Morristown Beard, getting that decent number of incoming freshmen to build a football program around is a challenge.

“I think you need around eight of your middle school kids each year to come out for football as freshmen to build from the bottom up,” said Taylor. “Getting the other outside kids who might want to play football isn’t going to always be that easy.

“You have schools like Delbarton, which has a terrific football program and is very good academically as well, and a kid going there might just be another cog in the wheel. If he comes to Newark Academy he will have a better chance to play a major role for four years, but you realize that Delbarton already has that strong football tradition and that’s just a fact of life.”

Newark Academy has been able to attract kids from both Essex and Morris counties. John Sternlicht, who was an outstanding football player and wrestler at NA, is from Florham Park, one of the Morris County towns that has boosted Minutemen sports.

Even Sparta, from Sussex County, has helped NA football with current standout Jordan Jett, an outstanding running back and cornerback, hailing from that community up the line.

What may help Trivino as he instills his innovative offensive approach that he brings with him from a fine career as a former coordinator at Caldwell is having athletes such as Jett and senior quarterback Jack Lawler, both of whom are already attracting Division III interest. Jett, who is also a fine basketball guard and runs the 40 in 4.43 seconds, has the academic prowess to even entertain thoughts of perhaps an Ivy League school, such as Princeton or Dartmouth, since he might be an attractive slot receiver or special teams return man at that level, even at a fairly lithe 5-foot-9, 150 pounds.

“I think he’d be a great fit for one of the NESCAC schools like Williams or Amherst,” said Taylor. “I loved working with Jordan the past three years and I know coach Trivino will enjoy having him as one of his top senior players this fall.”

Lawler has already drawn interest from Union (N.Y.) College, potentially as a strong safety, Taylor said.

Newark Academy football’s dilemma is the same as the MKA’s and Mo-Beards of the world: “numbers.”

Back in 2002, there were not enough varsity-ready players to warrant sending out a varsity team and the Minutemen assumed jayvee status for two seasons.

Mo-Beard, which did not feel it had enough players this summer, decided a couple of months back that it would field just a jayvee squad this season under its coach Tim Fell.

“It’s a tough decision and I know all the schools want to keep football thriving,” said Taylor. “It remains a numbers’ game. In MKA’s case, they’ve been able to build their number of kids in the 40-range or thereabouts under (coach) Lance Ramer the past couple of years, and it’s a shame about Mo-Beard because they had such a nice thing going there for a couple of seasons under coach (Steve) Romano, getting to Giants Stadium (in 2007) in a (Non-Public, Group 1) playoff final and doing a real good job against a Paterson Catholic team stocked with Division 1-A caliber talent.

“The big thing with Newark, and with all the small private school football teams, is avoiding the injury bug, because there just isn’t a lot of depth there for any of us if someone gets hurt.

“So, that’s the biggest thing moving forward for us and for everyone else: staying as healthy as possible over the course of a full season.”

Newark Academy returned to varsity status in 2004, struggling out of the gates and finishing 0-10 under new coach Pat Gist. Then, Gist guided the Minutemen to a terrific 5-4 playoff season, including a memorable 14-12 regular-season victory over a Jim DeSarno-guided Kinnelon team that catapulted NA into playoff contention for the first time.

Even a one-sided loss to Paterson Catholic in a first-round Non-Public, Group 1 playoff game could dampen the spirits of what appeared to be a season to build upon for the Minutemen gridders.

However, Gist’s third and final team went in the other direction with a fairly new cast of characters, finishing 0-10. Taylor came in and went 3-7 during his first season in 2007. Then, there were back-to-back 1-9 campaigns in 2008 and 2009.

“At Immaculate, we had D-1A caliber kids to turn to on our real successful teams, like a Gil Ross (Rutgers), an Omar Cheeseboro ( Maryland) or a Troy Austin (Duke), and that’s just not going to be the case at Newark Academy, although there are some real good athletes here. Like a Jett or a Lawler, to build a nice small-school football program around.

“I just felt I should step aside and I think the school found a real strong coach to take over the reins in Steve Trivino. I wish him the best of luck moving forward and I’ll be one of his biggest supporters!”

Newark Academy’s 2010 football schedule:

Saturday, Sept. 11: vs. Dwight-Englewood, 1 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 25: at Sussex Tech, 1 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 2, at Central (Untermann Field), 1 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 9, at Immaculate (Codey Field), 1 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 16 at MKA (Van Brunt Field), 1 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 23: vs. Cedar Grove, 1 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 30, at Verona, 1 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 6, vs. Glen Ridge, 1 p.m.

Willy Taylor tried as best as he could to turn around NA grid fortunes

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