Another coach moving

Woodstown football coach John Adams stepped down quietly Thursday night, social media flooded with messages honoring a ‘great career’

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

Apparently, Salem County has another head football coaching vacancy to fill.

Word around the coaching world in South Jersey is Woodstown football coach John Adams stepped down Thursday night about a season short of 100 career wins. While Riverview Sports News has not been able to confirm the news through Woodstown officials Thursday night, it has been confirmed through football sources.

Attempts to reach Adams and other Woodstown officials Thursday night were unsuccessful.

Earlier Thursday Adams responded to a text message from Riverview Sports News regarding the new WJFL schedule that was released Wednesday and said they were talking about the Delsea opener being a Thursday game without any mention of his situation. Asked Wednesday following the schedule release if there was anything to be aware of he replied “Not right now.”

Players and former players have been offering the coach their thanks and messages of gratitude and appreciation on social media all night.

In reply to a post by one of his unerclassmen, Adams wrote, “I am going to miss coaching you but I know the leadership is strong with you and the rest of the soon to be seniors. … I am excited to become a fan now.”

Adams’ most recent teams have been a favorite in South Jersey Group I football only to meet bitter and untimely ends before reaching their ultimate goal. After coming up short in the most heartbreaking of ways each of the previous two years, the Wolverines finally won the SJ Group I title this season and then fell to Glassboro on a last-minute gadget play 14-10 in the Group I state semifinals.

Adams would be the third of five Salem County head coaches to vacate since the end of the season. It’s probably the largest shakeup on the county football scene in a long time.

Penns Grove coach John Emel stepped down to take the West Deptford job. Salem’s Danny Mendoza stepped down a couple weeks ago to explore other opportunities. That leaves Schalick’s Mike Wilson and Pennsville’s Mike Healy as the last head coaches standing in Salem County.

Healy now becomes the longest-tenured head football coach in Salem County, beating Wilson by two years.