Changing Schools

On the surface it might seem puzzling as to why John Truhan would leave Colts Neck High School where he taught math and coached girl’s basketball for the same positions at Central Regional High School. Maybe there’s not much difference in the teaching part but there’s a huge gap on the basketball court. Colts Neck was 29-4 this past winter, won the Group 4 state title and went all the way to the Tournament of Champions final. Even more impressive is the fact that their entire starting lineup returns next season and some expect the Cougars to be nationally ranked. However they will have a new coach because Truhan is returning to his coaching roots in Ocean County and the reason is quite simple….family.

The 41-year old Toms River North graduate was officially introduced last night by Central Regional Superintendent Tommy Parlapanides and Athletic Director Vince Casale to his new players and parents in the gym which he will now call home and it truly is a case of coming home. Truhan lives in Berkeley Township with his wife Kim, 8-year old daughter Kristy and 4-year old son John Jr. and will now have less than a five minute commute to work. In the end that might have been the biggest factor in leaving a state power for a team that went 10-14 last year and has only won a couple of division titles in the last 25 years. His children are at an age where he wants to be able to see and participate in their activities and that was just not possible with the grueling in-season schedule and travel to Colts Neck each day. He said something last night which really left an impression. Every parent whose daughter you coach wants what’s best for their child but often coaches forget that with their own children. He is now in a position to do what’s best for his and he could not turn that down.

Truhan did a great job at Colts Neck, going 131-37 in six season but even more impressive was the 91 games he won before that in five years at Toms River South, including an appearance in the Group 3 final in 2001. Central Regional is not only getting an outstanding coach but a dedicated and passionate math teacher. Last thing…hats off to Parlapanides who in a very short time as Superintendent has shown to be a man of action, not words. He made it clear again last night that he and the Board of Education want the bar raised at Central and this latest move is another example of that.