He’s 62 years old now and has been the principal of Kennedy School in North Bergen for the last decade. Mike Guasconi should be winding down a career, not starting one.
But last week, Guasconi finally got the job that he thought he was getting four years ago, when the late Vince Ascolese retired as the head football coach at North Bergen High.
It was widely reported then that Guasconi was being groomed to replace Ascolese after the legendary coach announced he was stepping down at the end of the 2013 season.
But for some reason, that didn’t happen.
First, outsider Jimmy Crane was given the position, but when he ran into some difficulty with preseason coaching meetings. He was removed and the job went to former Hudson Reporter Athlete of the Year Czar Wiley.
When Wiley resigned at the end of last season, superintendent of schools George Solter approached Guasconi to see if he would be interested in the position.
“It’s just a little different challenge,” said Guasconi, who was an assistant coach (along with Solter) at North Bergen under the legendary Ascolese for 13 seasons (1983 through 1995). “I still enjoy coaching. I like the relationships and the interaction with the kids. It’s something I’ve done for over 30 years and the passion is definitely still there.”
When Guasconi left North Bergen, he eventually became the head coach at Weehawken High School, where he turned around a totally moribund program that went a ridiculous 3-69 before his arrival.
Guasconi eventually posted an 8-3 record with the Indians and led the Indians at that time (2000) to their first-ever NJSIAA state playoff berth with such standout players as Chris Hernandez, Fernando Fuentes and Alex Montanile.
“I developed good relationships with the kids in Weehawken,” said Guasconi, who said he remains in contact with former player Mike Maione, now working in the ticket and promotions department at the University of Notre Dame.
After leaving Weehawken, Guasconi became an assistant at Kean University, then went to St. Peter’s Prep, where he remained an assistant under Rich Hansen for the last nine years.
Guasconi explained the reasoning for wanting the North Bergen head coaching job now, when he instantly becomes the oldest coach in Hudson County.
“I work in the district,” Guasconi said. “I live in the community. I have the responsibilities of being a principal. When George Solter called me and asked me, I was a bit surprised, but I wasn’t shocked. I don’t live in the past. I always think about the future. I had a great experience coaching at Prep. I don’t look at it that I’m trying to make up with what happened here four years ago. That’s then. It’s over.”
Since officially receiving the appointment from the Board of Education, Guasconi has met with the 80 or so prospective Bruin players. The off-season weight training program has begun three days a week. Guasconi has also had a handful of meetings already with his assistant coaching staff.
“I am excited about the challenge,” Guasconi said. “A lot of people are saying that the program can’t come back. I don’t see it that way.”
Guasconi vows to take a lot of the strategy he used at St. Peter’s Prep with him to North Bergen.
“I’ve been trained with one of the very best in Rich Hansen and I will take a lot of the principles I learned there,” Guasconi said. “That will be the general blueprint.”
North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco, also the assistant superintendent of schools in the district, approved Guasconi’s hiring.
“With experience coaching both here in Hudson County at the highest levels and in college, Michael Guasconi is an excellent choice to lead our Bruins and work with our student athletes to build an outstanding program,” Sacco said. “Coach Guasconi has strong roots in our community and knows exactly what kind of commitment it takes to excel here and be successful.”…
One of the most interesting wrestlers headed to Atlantic City this weekend for the state championships is undefeated Union City heavyweight Jonathan Beltre, who takes his 30-0 record to the states with the hopes of becoming the Soaring Eagles’ first-ever state champ…
Beltre’s teammate, 220-pounder Elyezer Oliviery, is also undefeated at 27-0 heading into the state tourney. It’s astounding that Union City has two undefeated wrestlers in contention at Boardwalk Hall.
North Bergen, which won the NJSIAA District 16 team title for the first time in eight years, also has two competitors in Atlantic City in 113-pounder Dan Ortega (25-2) and 160-pounder Leo Subiza (26-4).
St. Peter’s Prep has three headed to Atlantic City in the Kelly brothers, 106-pound Michael (36-3) and this week’s Hudson Reporter Athlete of the Week Alec (33-1 at 132 pounds) and 138-pound Nick Santos Destiny Cabreja. Katelyn Andres also had 15 and brilliant point guard Jillian Jover had 14 points and seven assists…
Secaucus rebounded from a tough loss to Bayonne in the county playoffs with two wins in the North 2, Group I bracket against Technology of Newark and Dayton Regional of Springfield. In the 67-55 win over Dayton, Kristina Ulrich had 20, Lindsey Mack had 18 and Amanda Ulrich had 16 to give the Patriots a berth in the sectional semifinals against Arts of Newark…
In the boys’ bracket, Union City advanced in North 1, Group IV with a 79-53 win over Belleville, thanks to 18 points from Kenneth Aviles and 15 from Abraham Felix. The top-seeded Soaring Eagles, now 22-5, were slated to face Montclair in the quarterfinal round…
Hudson Reporter Boys’ High School Basketball Top Five: 1. St. Anthony (26-0). 2. Hudson Catholic (21-3). 3. Union City (22-5). 4. St. Peter’s Prep (15-9). 5. Snyder (17-9)…
Hudson Reporter Girls’ High School Basketball Top Five: 1. Bayonne (20-3). 2. Lincoln (19-5). 3. Secaucus (21-7). 4. North Bergen (16-7). 5. Marist (18-8). – Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.