The speculation has prompted many
supporters to write letters of support on his behalf to Wayne Township
education officials, citing the following off-field and on-field factors:
OFF-FIELD
1. His 22 seniors this year have an average grade point average of 3.2. Every senior he has ever coached in his 12 years has gone on to attend college.
2.
He annually asks his players to
participate in important charitable causes such as the Breast Cancer Awareness
Walk and the Bruce Eckrote Memorial Run, an event that supports esophageal
cancer awareness.
3.
He preserves the team’s proud past
by creating and subsequently presiding over the Wayne Valley Football Hall of
Fame.
4.
He welcomes of the U.S. Marines
Corps to a summer practice to preach pride, discipline, persistence and
commitment.
5.
He
welcomes the ETS staff during the spring and summer workouts to not only
enhance the team’s strength and conditioning program, but to also help with
mental toughness and team building.
6.
He
welcomes Dr. Gilbert, a Sports Psychologist, to practices. Dr. Gilbert speaks
with the team on working together, believing in themselves and each other, and
in the power of positive thinking.
7.
He
instills in the team high core values and teaches lessons that will last a lifetime,
long after their playing days come to an end.
ON-FIELD
1.
Two consecutive injury ravaged
seasons have resulted in two consecutive 4-6 seasons. Unfortunately, that seems
to greatly overshadow the fact that Wayne Valley has actually been one of the
top football programs in New Jersey during O’Connor’s tenure.
2.
In the aftermath of losing seasons,
that may be small consolation. However, a look at the big picture shows that
Wayne Valley has qualified for the playoffs five times since 2005. That may not
seem like a lot compared to the unparalleled level of success that cross-town
Wayne Hills has experienced; and unfortunately for O’Connor, that’s the
barometer he’s measured against by some fans.
3.
Compared to the rest of North
Jersey, though, five playoff appearances
since 2005 is quite admirable. There are more than 80 public school teams in
the NJSIAA’s North Jersey Section I (Passaic, Bergen, Sussex, Morris and Essex Counties).
Only 12 teams have made the playoffs more than Valley since 2005. These facts
can be verified on http://www.gridironnewjersey.com, a site that lists playoff history back to 1974.
4.
Between 2005 to 2010, O’Connor’s
Wayne Valley teams were 43-18, a winning percentage of .704. The record has
slipped a bit since then, but not significantly so. The team’s record between
2005 and 2013 is 59-29 for a winning percentage of .670, still more than
respectable.
Based on his winning record and
based on the way he leads his program with integrity and class, supporters believe
it is clear that he already has earned his right to be mentioned in the same
sentence as former Valley head coaches Ken Sinofsky, Ernie Zuberer, Fred Keil, Dave McMahon and Bob
Bishop and should be retained.
“This program is thriving,
despite a disappointing varsity record
in recent years,” the coach said. "For 12 years, the entire coaching staff has
been telling Wayne Valley football players that they are students first,
athletes second, and that above all family comes first. I am very proud that so
many of my players have gone on to pursue higher education and are upstanding
members of their communities. I am also proud to say that I, along with my
entire coaching staff, gave them guidance and support along the way. As Wayne
Valley football future,the
JV and Freshmen teams both achieved winning records the last two seasons. The
players are excited to start working for next year and so am I. We'll be back in the playoffs and competing for a state title in no time at all, like we've done many times before.”
Follow Wayne Sports news: https://twitter.com/SkiffoDrake
Follow Wayne Sports news: https://twitter.com/SkiffoDrake
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