The familiar face was barking out criticism at the girls’ softball team, called the Noah’s Ark Devil Rays, which he was coaching.
“We don’t look ready to play today,” the coach said. “We don’t look good today.”
Soon after, the coach was offering words of advice.
“Let’s use our heads today,” the coach instructed. “Play up on the grass. Get to the ball before it gets to the dirt.”
The reason the coach was so familiar to everyone is because he is also the mayor.
That’s right – Guttenberg Mayor David Delle Donna has spent the last few months as the head coach of the Devil Rays in the Guttenberg Recreation girls’ softball league.
Delle Donna, who was a standout shortstop during his baseball playing days at North Bergen High School, playing varsity for 1975 and 1976, had coached in the league for one season about eight years ago, when his older daughter, Stephanie, was a participant.
At the league’s Opening Day ceremonies in April, league organizers told Delle Donna there was an additional team this season due to an increase in registration. But the new team didn’t have a coach.
“Someone asked me if I would be available to coach the team,” Delle Donna said. “I originally didn’t think I would have the time to do so. With my air conditioning and refrigerator business, I’m busy in the summer. Plus with the duties of being the mayor, I just didn’t think I’d be able to do it. So I agreed to coach until they could find someone else.”
Delle Donna’s younger daughter, Dorothy, was a member of the Devil Rays, so it made sense for him to coach the team. However, he was hopeful at first to have someone relinquish him of his coaching duties after the first few weeks. But that never happened.
In retrospect, Delle Donna is glad that no one stepped forward to replace him.
“I couldn’t believe how much fun I had,” Delle Donna said. “The girls are all good kids. They try to act tough, but they listen and they have fun. They all wanted to practice as much as possible, even the days when we had games. They wanted to spend every minute they had on the field.”
Delle Donna said that there wasn’t any sense of awe from the girls that their coach was also the mayor.
“I honestly think they could care less that I was the mayor,” Delle Donna said.
One of the players, 14-year-old Jenny Pinto, came up with an interesting name.
“I called him ‘Coach Mayor,’ ” Pinto said. “I think of him as being both our coach and our mayor. I was surprised when I found out the mayor was going to be our coach. I figured a mayor would never have enough time to coach. But he’s been very supportive and very helpful with us. When we won our first game, he took us all out for pizza and soda.”
Jennifer Abreu, another 14-year-old member of the Devil Rays, was shocked when she heard that the mayor was going to coach the team.
“I didn’t think it was true,” Abreu said. “I thought someone was making a joke at first. I thought he came at first just to make us feel good. But he’s been a lot of fun to play for. If we make a mistake, he doesn’t get too mad. He’s always happy. It’s more fun to play for him because he’s always happy.”
Last week, the Devil Rays began play in the league playoffs against the Curves Braves, coached by Kenny Martoral, who is also the town’s assistant director of recreation. Was there any pressure on Martoral to throw the game to the mayor’s team, for fear he might lose his job? You now, politics could get really nasty in Hudson County.
“Nah, it’s all in fun, win or lose,” Martoral said. “It’s all for a good time. I think it’s great that the mayor came out to coach. It makes him more approachable. He’s a great guy.”
Even if the Braves defeated the Devil Rays that day, ending Delle Donna’s team’s season, Martoral said it was all in good spirit.
“I don’t think my job is in jeopardy,” Martoral said. “I’m pretty safe. I think he’s a good guy. Instead of having the team fold, he picked them up and did a good job with them. He’s always willing to do good things for the kids.”
Delle Donna’s team lost four of their first five games, but managed to make a dramatic improvement to finish the season with five wins and seven losses.
“After some practices and games, we got going,” Delle Donna said. “I’m very happy with the season we had.”
It was such a positive experience that Delle Donna is already planning to coach next season.
“I plan to coach again next year,” Delle Donna said. “I can’t begin to tell you how much fun it was. I thought it was going to be a chore, but I found myself looking forward to it every day.”
It’s also very different to see a municipality’s leader actually coaching a team.
“Guttenberg is a little different because we’re so small,” Delle Donna said. “I know all the kids and the kids know me. I guess it’s unique, but I didn’t even realize that. I just love coaching and teaching the game.”