For years, Freeholder Anthony Romano has teased Hoboken Coach Charles “Buddy” Matthews about a diet that allegedly includes Devil Dogs and Pepsi. Matthews said he doesn’t like Devil Dogs.
“A Ring Ding maybe, but not Devil Dogs,” he said recently.
While Romano likes to tease Matthews, he was perfectly serious when he sang the praises of the Hoboken coach, who has played a huge role in the lives of kids.
“During his years as a coach, he’s been a positive influence on kids not just in Hoboken, but throughout Hudson County,” Romano said.
The county freeholders paid tribute to Matthews at a meeting last month for his “outstanding contributions to Hoboken public schools” and “his extraordinary achievements as a high school athletic coach.”
Matthews has been an educational leader for 34 years. He was raised in Hoboken, where he attended Our Lady of Grace Grammar School and Hoboken High School. He furthered his education at Saint Peter’s College, where he earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in education. At New Jersey City University, he earned a master’s degree in urban education.
“Sports made me what I am today.” – Charles Matthews
____________
He served as a coach of school athletics for decades. He also served as a baseball coach for Hoboken High School for 22 years – winning eight county championships, five state championships, and nine conference championships.
His baseball record stands at 459 wins and 234 losses, a .662 winning percentage, and he coached seven players that have gone on to play professional baseball. He was also honored as Baseball Coach of the Year seven times (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 2006, and 2007).
He also served as the basketball coach for Hoboken High School for 22 years, including 10 years as head varsity coach, during which time he attained the following extraordinary record of accomplishments: conference championship and the first county championship in school history in 2005; three consecutive county championships, from 2005 through 2007; 48 game conference winning streak, from 2005 through 2007; an overall record of 157 wins and 77 losses for a .671 winning percentage; a conference record of 97 wins and 9 losses for a .898 winning percentage; and Basketball Coach of the Year honors three times (2005, 2006, and 2007).
Matthews also served as a Build Better Baseball Coach from 1990 to 1993, winning a championship in 1993.
He received numerous honors and awards during his career in recognition of his many accomplishments and extraordinary dedication, including the following: induction into the Hoboken High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1997; induction into the Saint Peter’s College Sports Hall of Fame in 1998; Irishman of the Year by the Hoboken Elks Club in 1999; Man of the Year by United Cerebral Palsy in 1998; grand marshal for the 2006 Hoboken St. Patrick’s Day Parade; “Who’s Who” of American Teachers four times (1992, 1996, 2000, and 2009); Coach of the Year Award by the Peter DiNardo Association in 1994; and honors from the Hoboken Little League in 1998.
A tremendous honor
In a phone interview, Matthews said it was a tremendous honor to be recognized by the freeholders. He said it is one thing to be honored by townspeople who see him and know what he does, people who think he’s done something special. He said he was most proud of helping kids through sports and school to become successes.
“Wins and losses mean less than doing a lot of things for kids that I hope will help hundreds become better citizens,” he said.
Matthews said he has been teaching since 1988, and likes being involved.
While he thinks sports have a significant role in helping kids, he also realizes that kids can’t get ahead without college, so academics are hugely important.
“The only way to get into a good college is to do well in school and on the SATs,” he said.
What is good about sports is that it creates a positive environment and for the most part, kids who get involved in sports generally stay away from drugs.
“This is another avenue they can take,” he said. “Sports keeps them out of being in a negative environment.”
He said he even discouraged tobacco use, even chewing tobacco products.
He grew up in Hoboken. His family owned a candy/liquor store from 1944 to 1980, where he worked most of his life.
“When my family sold it, I turned towards teaching,” he said, calling his working in the store “a tremendous experience” that taught him a number of aspects of the business, from handling newspapers at age nine, later delivering papers at night, then working behind the counter when he was old enough.
“Sports made me what I am today,” he said. “Like other kids, I also had a lot of temptations, but I chose to be involved in sports.”
He said sports allows kids to be part of something, and like kids today, he had to make a decision that he would steer towards.
Romano said he and other freeholders wanted to honor Matthews because he served as a role model, not just for kids in Hoboken, but throughout the county.
“He’s one of the good guys who has done things for all the right reasons,” Romano said. “He is a good man and has a heart of gold.”