Schalick’s Mannella, Woodstown’s Huck on track to become Salem County’s only 300-win soccer coaches
| COUNTDOWN TO 300 | WINS | NEEDS |
| Joe Mannella, Schalick | 296 | 4 |
| Darren Huck, Woodstown | 289 | 11 |
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE – Joe Mannella and Darren Huck are intense coaching rivals. They’re also good friends that extend beyond the pitch.
They’ve played against each other in high school. They’ve coached together as assistants. They’ve gone against each other as head coaches, Mannella at Schalick and Huck at Woodstown. Their families have gone on vacation together. Last Monday, after their teams had another intense battle, Mannella walked around the corner to Huck’s house and they watched the Eagles game together.
“There’s a lot of respect there,” Huck said. “There’s a camaraderie there.”
Inexorably linked, they’re now closing in on a major coaching milestone together. If all goes well, they will both become the only soccer coaches in Salem County with 300 wins before the season ends.
Mannella, in his 22nd season, almost certainly will cross the line first. Going into this week he’s only four away. The milestone could happen as soon as Sept. 30 when the Cougars host Penns Grove. It should be safely behind him by the time he plays old friend Huck again Oct. 10.
Huck, in his 26th season, has more of a hill to climb. He needs 11 to get there (with 13 games plus the playoffs left). His entry into the 300 Club could happen as soon as Oct. 18 at Overbrook.
Interestingly, both are coaching at their alma maters. Both are the fourth coaches in the history of their programs. And both are in tenures longer (and with more wins) than their three predecessors combined.
“I always said I’d love to be able to share that within the same year of him,” Huck said. “It also means we’ve been around a long time, too. We’ve had some very good players and, if anything, 300 is just a true testament to staying consistent and doing the right things.”
The feeling is mutual.
“He’s been part of my journey for a long time,” Mannella said. “My last year I think was his first year as an assistant at Woodstown. We played against each other in high school although we didn’t really know each other then, but we share a lot of stories of common friends and stuff like that.
“Knowing it’s closer to the end, this could be the last big milestone, I kind of kept an eye on it. To get it with Huck, knowing that we’ll be done soon, to have two guys living not even a quarter-mile away from each other with 300 (will be special).”
Entering the season there were 58 soccer coaches in New Jersey with 300 or more boys-only wins. All the wins Mannella and Huck have registered have come with their current programs.
Like Huck, for Mannella the milestone is just a sign that he’s been around a while; Huck calls him “a staple here.” But the Schalick coach also said it’s a tribute to all the players and coaches who have made it possible.
“I was here for a lot of firsts,” Mannella said, recalling the days when the team played on a back field and other games were scattered throughout the community. “Winning the first division, qualifying for the first South Jersey tournament back when you had to be .500 to qualify, making our first South Jersey final. It meant a lot for me to be able to come back here and coach.
“Three hundred? I’ve had a lot of good players. I’ve been here a long time. It’s my blood. It’s in my family’s blood. All those guys who were first and got the ball rolling, they’re all part of the success we’ve had and I’m just happy to be here for this many wins.”
He said it would be especially nice to get the milestone with this current team, which won 17 games last year largely as sophomores and juniors.
“I’d like to get to 400; I think with this group of guys and the group of guys coming up I think that’s realistic,” he said. “I hadn’t really thought about that before. I figured I’ll get 300, we get another state title, I could see myself going out on top.
“This team, it’s kind of special because it’s such a great group of kids. I remember one of (the milestones), I don’t know if it was 100 or 200, I liked them … but I really like this team. I’m so glad I get to share a milestone with these guys and hopefully a lot more with them.”
In the meantime, the countdown continues. You can bet both coaches will be keeping an eye on the other’s progress.
“In the end we’re still going to remain friends, no matter what,” Huck said. “At some point we’ll be retired and who knows what we’ll do. Maybe we’ll travel or something; who knows.”
| BOYS SOCCER COACHES | |||
| SCHALICK | WINS | WOODSTOWN | WINS |
| Joe Mannella | 296 | Darren Huck | 289 |
| John Donovan | 204 | Doug Hathaway | 46 |
| Kevin Jackson | 21 | Steve Petner | 67 |
| Shawn McHugh | 12 | Glenn Merkle | 69 |
Riverview Sports News 