Rapczynski the pick

Wilmington University men’s assistant tabbed as the new women’s basketball coach at Salem CC; one former Mighty Oaks player who has come under his wing gives high praise

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT — Wilmington University men’s basketball assistant J.J. Rapczynski will be the new Salem Community College women’s basketball coach, pending approval by the board at its meeting later this month.

Rapczynski, a former Ursinus College guard, just completed his third season with the WilmU men’s team. He also coached at West Chester and Widener, and was an assistant women’s coach at Neumann.

“I’ve known who he is for a long time,” Salem athletics director Bob Hughes said. “He comes from a long line of basketball people.”

The Mighty Oaks received 90 applications for the position. Rapczynski was among five finalists who included a longtime South Jersey high school head coach, two women’s assistant coaches from within Region XIX and a former Division I women’s player just starting her coaching career.

“He clearly had an understanding of recruiting in-state (and) knowledge of the region,” Hughes said. “He really seemed to the best fit … the one who the committee felt would work well here.”

Coach Rap scores high marks with one former Salem CC player, who predicts he’ll become a “historically great coach” with the Mighty Oaks. Akeem Taylor transferred to WilmU after leading the Mighty Oaks to a fifth-place finish in the 2025 national tournament and worked with Rapczynski on a daily basis.

“Coach Rap is a great coach with a high-level basketball IQ and a real understanding of the game,” Taylor said. “He’s big on player development and puts a lot of time into helping players improve their skills, confidence and overall approach. He holds players accountable, but also supports them, so you grow both on and off the court. He’s detail-oriented, communicates well and knows how to build relationships with his players.

“I think he will end up being a historically great coach at Salem and build a very successful program on and off the court.”

Rapczynski succeeds Brian Marsh, who stepped aside after a tumultuous 2025-26 season cut short with three games left when the arrest of four players left by the team without enough players to field a competitive team. Marsh coached the program through the first three seasons of its revival. He was 23-43 with a high-water mark of 11 wins last season.