Three years ago, Joe Cirillo was a catcher on the St. Peter’s College baseball team. The Weehawken native was thinking that he could perhaps become a baseball coach somewhere down the road after graduating.
Cirillo never dreamed three years later, he would be a head varsity basketball coach, leading his team into the HCIAA Coviello Division playoff semifinals.
"There was no way possible anyone could have thought that," Cirillo said.
It’s funny how things turn around sometimes.
While Cirillo was still attending SPC, his friend from Weehawken, Joe Sabato, was coaching the boys’ basketball team at Lincoln High School in Jersey City. Sabato, a former Weehawken great who went on to play college basketball at Appalachian State, was establishing himself as a basketball coach and wanted Cirillo to serve as an assistant.
"I went along with the idea," Cirillo said. "I just wanted to help Joey any way I could."
A year ago, the Lions had a dream run in the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group III playoffs. After failing to qualify for the HCIAA playoffs, the Lions rolled off three straight wins on the road, all by a single point, then defeated Sparta to capture the state sectional crown. The Lions eventually lost to Weequahic in the Group III state semifinals.
"We missed 19 free throws that game," Cirillo recalled. "But it was a great run."
The Lions had a good nucleus returning from that state sectional championship team. They worked hard together in the off-season, participating in team camps at Fairleigh Dickinson University and St. Peter’s College, as well as fairing pretty well in the Jersey City Recreation Summer League.
"We had a very productive summer," Cirillo said. "We put in a lot of time in the summer. We even beat St. Anthony in the summer, so that gave us a lot of hope."
There was only one problem. The Lions were about to be without a coach.
Unbeknownst to most people, Sabato was applying to become a vice-principal in the Ridgefield Park school district. He got the job officially just one week before pre-season practices were set to begin in November.
"I really didn’t know Joey was going to leave," Cirillo said. "I didn’t know where things were going to go. I knew that there was very little time before practice was scheduled to begin."
Cirillo heard that the school’s administration was considering other people to take over for Sabato. He wanted the chance to prove himself as the head coach, despite the fact he was only 24 years old.
"Being the assistant for the last three years, I felt I had a good rapport with the players," Cirillo said.
The players obviously had a good feeling about Cirillo as well. They collectively went to the school’s administration to rally for Cirillo.
"The kids requested that I would be the new coach," Cirillo said. "They were adamant about it. If it wasn’t for these kids, I don’t know if I would have received the chance."
Cirillo attended the Snyder-Lincoln football game the day before Thanksgiving, not knowing his future. However, after the game was over, Lincoln athletic director Artie Williams told Cirillo to get ready for practice on Friday. Cirillo was being named the interim head coach for the season.
"There wasn’t any time to think about it," Cirillo said. "It all happened so quickly, in the span of a week. I had to get a staff together and then get ready for practice."
Cirillo said that there wasn’t a tough transition period, because he had worked with the team for the last three years.
"The groundwork was already put in place," Cirillo said. "The kids knew what to expect from me."
Cirillo knew he had a world of talent in place as well, kids like seniors Damien Nelson, Tariq Jackson, Willie Baisden and Daron Darby, four seniors who had been through the rigors of the program and grew as the young coach grew.
"We had a good nucleus of players who had a good experience in the state playoffs last year," Cirillo said. "That helped, but we also had some question marks."
The Lions jumped out to a 4-0 start, then started to experience the bumps of a long season. They played a tough schedule, facing the state’s two premier teams, namely St. Anthony and St. Patrick’s of Elizabeth, within a span of seven days.
"I knew that the schedule would help us when we got to the playoffs," Cirillo said.
The play of the Lions also helped. Nelson, a 6-5 forward, became a go-to player, averaging 14 points and 12 rebounds per game. Baisden, a 6-0 guard, averaged 10 points and became the Lions’ defensive stopper. Jackson, a lightning quick 5-11 guard (eight points per game), and 5-11 senior Michael Delancey (9 ppg.) added scoring balance.
The team had received solid play from 6-6 junior James West, who was averaging 11 points per game, but West recently became academically ineligible and will miss the remainder of the season.
"We’ll move on," Cirillo said. "It was a tremendous loss, but the other players are picking up the slack."
Cirillo said that the Lions faced adversity last week, needing to defeat Dickinson and North Bergen to qualify for the HCIAA playoffs.
"We were down 15 to North Bergen on the road in the fourth quarter and came back to win," Cirillo said. "That was the best game we played all year. Hopefully, that win will have a carryover to the playoffs. Hopefully, we’re peaking at the right time."
The Lions defeated Ferris in the opening round of the HCIAA playoffs Monday night to advance to the semifinals, where they were taking on regular season champion Memorial.
Cirillo has no idea what the future holds, either with his career or the fortunes of his team. He’s still holding the tag "interim," before the name of "head coach," which means he has no guarantees.
"We’re taking it one day at a time," Cirillo said. "We can’t worry about that (his future status). Whatever the administration chooses to do, I will accept. It’s out of my hands. I haven’t heard anything either way. Regardless of what happens, it’s been a rewarding experience. It’s had its down moments, but the positives outweigh the negatives."
No matter what transpires over the last few weeks of the season, Cirillo has received one valuable item that he never thought he would – head coaching experience at a tender age.
"It’s been very enjoyable," Cirillo said. "I wouldn’t have traded it for the world. If any success can be achieved, it’s for the kids. They deserve it. I’ve never had a better group of kids, both on and off the court. They’ve been great."
Hopefully, great will translate into champion by the end of the weekend – and maybe longer. – Jim Hague