Wrestling: Watchung Hills' Jim Huff is the 2024-25 Courier News Coach of the Year
Go back to Jim Huff’s junior wrestling season at Watchung Hills. He remembers a tussle against Delbarton – that the Warriors won – and he was in sync at one point with head coach Dan Smith.
“I was giving out instructions to my teammates when coach Smith was giving out instructions to my teammates,” Huff recalled, “and he looked at me and he said, ‘Jimmy you can come coach with me any day.’ And I’ll never forget that.”
Turns out, Huff was just getting started in his coaching career. He went on to shout instructions in several sports but has been most well known as Watchung Hill’s head wrestling skipper the last seven seasons.
Huff stepped down earlier this month to become the athletic director at Parsippany Hills. He picked a memorable season to go out and is the Courier News Wrestling Coach of the Year.
Watchung Hills entered the Somerset County Tournament as the third or fourth pick for most people. It turned into a near-perfect afternoon for the Warriors, who stunningly captured the team title with 188 points, ahead of Ridge (177.5), Hillsborough (164.5) and Bridgewater-Raritan (157.5).
Watchung (18-4) also beat B-R (North 2 Group 5 champs) and Hillsborough to lay claim as the county’s best team. Despite what others thought, Huff said he told his wrestlers they were the best team. Just, they had to believe and keep wrestling hard whatever round they were in.
“We thrived in the wrestlebacks and the kids’ effort was phenomenal and they took in what I said,” Huff noted. “I said we were the best team in the county this year and not a lot of people thought that and I think it proved that we were.”
The Warriors featured stars like Anthony DiAndrea (126, third in the state) and Cody Pritzlaff (157), who each won SCT gold medals.
However, unsung guys came through and the whole lineup won at least one match. Evan Frank (106), Cam Kolakowski (120), Michael Samayoa (132), Max Shaferman (138), Nick Valenti (165), Artun Kirgezmis (175), Jake Carfaro (215) and Kenneth Ferrari (285) each placed in the top four.
Others scored team points with Morgan Torres (113), Ryan Higgins (144), Christopher Matos (150) and Patrick Coleman (190) each getting a pin.
“I think one of the biggest pleasures as a coach is watching the growth and development of your wrestlers both in the classroom and on the mat,” Huff said. “Although we were a senior-heavy team, I would say nine of our 14 starters started wrestling in high school as a freshman. … You have kids who have grown exponentially and it’s really rewarding as a coach to see that growth and to be part of that process.”
He deflected any recognition for himself and praised his staff of Mike Magaldo, Anthony Rizzolo, Shaina Murray and Glenn Pritzlaff, as well as two coaches who guided Huff – Dan Smith and Doug Kolody. He said both are “a big reason why I am where I am today and I can’t thank them enough for everything they’ve done for me.”
In turn, Huff has helped his share of Warriors.
“No one’s perfect but coach Huff is about as perfect as a coach can get,” DiAndrea said. “I mean, he works us hard and he believes in us and he puts so much time into training us and making sure we’re prepared. He cares about each and every wrestler on the team and all the wrestlers know that. It’s sad to see him go but you know, he’s on to other things in life and I’m very happy for him. I’ve been so blessed just to have him as a coach the past three years. I wouldn’t be here without him, so big thanks to him.”
Huff oozes Watchung Hills pride. He spent time as the middle school wrestling coach for five years and ran the high school’s offseason programs. He also assisted on the football and baseball staffs and was the head golf coach the past three season.
“I wouldn’t coach anywhere else besides Watchung Hills,” said Huff, who was a special-education physics teacher. “I live and breathe Watchung Hills and coaching and teaching there. It’s very bittersweet that I won’t be coaching there next year but I know that I poured my heart and soul into that program when I was an athlete and when I was a coach.”
The Huff name is familiar to softball fans. His older sister Michelle is the head coach at Metuchen and was formerly the coach at Plainfield, and his younger sister Stephanie was a star at Watchung Hills and also coached at Plainfield.
“We’re a family that loves sports,” said Huff, adding that his sisters usually one-up him in accomplishments. “We’re a competitive family but we support and love each other. I’m so happy for both of them. They’re both doing really well in life.”
For Huff, his coaching career was all about molding kids into adults.
“I was taught by a lot of mentors like Dan Smith and Doug Kolody, to be a better person and to help people,” Huff said. “That’s what I kind of try to do is, I try to implement that philosophy. At the end of the day, I want these kids coming back in 10, 15 years and just saying, ‘hey, I remember when we did this.’ Or, ‘hey coach thank you for that.’ It’s the little things that maybe I don’t remember but it sticks with them for a long time. That’s what happened with me. They made a difference in my life and that’s what I’ve been trying to do.”
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Wrestling: Watchung Hills' Jim Huff is the CN Coach of the Year
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