Salem CC expected to approve extending Accorsi’s consulting contract as school moves toward adding football in 2026
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT – Salem Community College is expected to take another step towards the most significant expansion in the modern era of its athletics program Thursday when policymakers hear a proposal to continue its exploration of bringing football to the campus for the first time in Fall 2026.
Athletics director Bob Hughes is scheduled to make a presentation on the current state of the department’s research at the board of trustee’s monthly meeting and president Mike Gorman is expected to recommend extending the contract of consultant Jay Accorsi in order to bring into focus some unresolved variables that are beyond the school’s control.
Both administrators are in favor of the move, but the ultimate decision rests with the board.
Gorman told the board in August if the school were to move forward with starting football it would need to commit by mid-October. He said Tuesday “things will solidify over the next four weeks” for the Mighty Oaks to move forward with fielding a team in 2026 or not.
“It would be premature (today to say the program is starting), but we’re definitely moving in a direction to bring that to fruition,” Gorman said. “The concept that I anticipate on this (Thursday) is getting the nod from the board to continue the path that we are on with an intent of becoming more deliberate here.
“We still have pieces of this puzzle to assemble, but I need (the board’s) authorization to continue doing that. I’ve got to get these other pieces in place in order to make it happen.”
Accorsi, the retired Rowan University head football coach, has been serving as a consultant researching the feasibility of bringing football to the two-year college for the past two months. He has been interested in the idea of that level of football in New Jersey for several years and brought it to Gorman earlier this spring.
The school considered adding the sport earlier this decade and the idea had support, but it ultimately was decided the time wasn’t quite right to pull the trigger.
The climate appears even more favorable this time. There is only one junior college football program in New Jersey – Sussex County CC – and when Pennsylvania’s Lackawanna CC transitions to NCAA Division II in 2026 there will be no other NJCAA football between Newton and Louisburg, N.C., leaving a wide and fertile ground for attracting players.
It is estimated it would cost $500,000 for the Mighty Oaks to start a football program.
Among the challenges still to be addressed are where the team will play and practice and what schedule will it play. It is believed the team would play its games at the various county high school stadiums against a schedule that likely would include Sussex and teams from New York, North Carolina, nearby trade colleges and four-year junior varsities. Area hotels could be used for the housing needs of the players.
Hughes called the process to date “thorough and exhaustive” and said Accorsi has done “a great job of getting a detailed look of what this investment for the college looks like and I’m happy with the results.” He was looking forward to addressing the board.
“We’ve done a lot of work on this,” Hughes said. “It’ll be great to share it and I’m looking forward to whatever conversation comes from it.
“It’s energized me. It wasn’t something I was expecting to do, but it’s been a great process and I think we’re still just in the infancy, and that’s the fun part – we’re really just getting started.”
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