The Silver Fox Steps Down

As was reported over the weekend Warren Wolf’s long and distinguished coaching career has come to an end. The soon-to-be 84 year old informed Lakewood High School officials Friday that he would not be returning to coach the Piners football team for a second season this fall even though that was his plan until very recently. Just a couple of weeks ago Wolf had stepped down as a member of the Brick Township Board of Education.

The “Silver Fox” is best known for his 51 years as head coach of the Brick “Green Dragons” where he built one of New Jersey’s top programs and helped put Shore Conference football on the map. The championship flags that fly at Keller Memorial Field are a testament to Wolf’s greatness where he often won without the biggest and fastest but always the best-prepared. However one of his greatest coaching jobs might have been at Lakewood last year where he took a downtrodden program that knew nothing but losing and brought some respect and pride back to a school that badly needed it. The Piners not only broke a 33-game losing streak but won three of last four games and beat rival Toms River South on Thanksgiving Day. That was career victory #364 for Wolf and as it turns out his last….it was a great way to end a great ride.

Have you ever been at a baseball game when an adult beats out a child for a foul ball? Well last week David DeConde of Toms River was at FirstEnergy Park for a BlueClaws game along with his family. As a foul ball was hit into the stands David watched as a man in his 40’s ran to the ball and just beat out a little girl, who was about 5 years old. Those who witnessed the event clearly wanted the adult to give the ball to the child but the man decided to keep the ball for himself. When the little girl started crying David came to the rescue and gave her a ball that he had. A fan sitting nearby was so impressed that she contacted BlueClaws management at the game and they brought over a baseball signed by All-Star Anthony Hewitt. Later the girlfriend of BlueClaws slugger Jim Murphy (his favorite player) came over and said she would get the entire team to sign the ball.

What makes this story even more special is David DeConde is just 6 years old…actually tomorrow is his 7th birthday. He attends Cedar Grove Elementary School and plays baseball, soccer and ice hockey. Reports are that he’s a pretty good athlete and we already know he has great manners and a big heart.