Former legendary Henry Hudson Regional sports coach Vinnie Whitehead has filed for election as a Republican to one of the two council seats to be decided in the November election. in Atlantic Highlands, running on the ticket with incumbent Councilman James Murphy running for Mayor for the first time, and community activist and army veteran Ellen O’Dwyer.
This is a story I wrote for the Monmouth Journal three years ago when the school where Whitehead coached for 44 years named its gym after him in a ceremony that brought generations of the same families he had coached to honor him.
HIGHLANDS — (January 31, 2020) – The Henry Hudson Regional School gym was officially renamed the Coach Vinnie Whitehead Gym in a festive and moving ceremony Wednesday night that brought faculty, administration, students, alumni, family and scores of well-wishers and admirers to their feet numerous times for standing ovations for the retired coach.
Coach Vinnie retired last year after 44 years at the 7th through 12 regional school. But in that time, he racked up 64 years of coaching athletes and teaching teenagers how to live better lives. He coached 28 years of cross country, 20 of basketball, 10 of baseball, four of field hockey and two years of softball. In fact, he took on cross country as his second sport to coach for the specific reason of getting his basketball players in the best shape possible for their upcoming season.
The dedication program preceded the scheduled basketball game between the Admirals and the Keansburg High School Titans, all of whom sat quietly awaiting the start of the game, but in support and admiration for the retired coach.
With a series of speakers seated at the podium each to offer accolades to Whitehead and his wife, Maria, and speak of how the coach impacted their own lives as well as that of thousands of students, the honored guest and his family were each escorted beneath a tower of pompoms and parade of cheerleaders to thunderous applause from a crowded gym to seats at the podium.
Among the speakers in praise of the coach was alumnus and Atlantic Highlands Councilman James Murphy, who referred to Whitehead as a myth and a legend, and spoke on how he was inspired and, motivated by the man who helped create the foundation on which he lives his life. Current basketball coach Drew Eldridge, who attended Hudson for two years before transferring to Mater Dei to play football for the Seraphs, spoke of how Whitehead, “Let a lot of us live out our dreams.”
Eldridge also praised the Keansburg Titans as “a class team.”
Vincent Esposito, Dean of Studies and Athletics, who headed the program, admired Whitehead as his own mentor and leader. Principal Lenore Kingsmore presented Whitehouse. Superintendent of School Dr. Susan Compton cited the positive differences she observed in students and faculty alike because of Whitehead’s wisdom and guidance.
And the accolades and thunderous applause continued when Board of Education president Gail Woods presented Whitehead with a 1970 photo of the coach when he was a student at Christian Brothers Academy, and praised his energy, and passion. Woods also presented Whitehead with a plaque and read the resolution from the Board of Education honoring him for his 44 years at Henry Hudson and unanimously approving the dedication of the gym in his honor.
Whitehead, thanked the crowd, the faculty, his coworkers, students and alumni for the roles they have played in t he lives of him and his wife, Maria, as well as their daughter, Ashley. He praised and thanked his brother-in-law, Joe Nappo, who, like Whitehead’s wife, graduated from Henry Hudson and who came back to coach field hockey, co-coaching with Whitehead for four years and bringing the Admirals to four winning seasons, four Shore Conferences and four state tournaments during that time. But Whitehead said the greatest trophy for him has been “ the living, breathing, heart beating boys and girls I have been privileged to coach.”
Whitehead said that he was the fourth coach at the high school and has worked under many different principals and administrators during his more than four decades at the school. Then, as no surprise to anyone, he turned to the students and advised them to “be fierce, always respect, try your best, listen to your teachers and your parents and grandparents, and live life to the fullest.”
After the ceremony and before the game got underway, scores of well-wishers accepted the invitation to sign a piece of the former floor of the gym, which was recently renovated and improved, and leave a message for Coach Whitehead as a memento for him of t he lives he has impacted during his career at “the little school at the top of the hill.”
The retired coach grew up in Wall Township, attended St. Rose Grammar School in Belmar and Christian Brothers Academy before attending Brookdale College. He earned a baseball scholarship to Furman University in Greenville, SC and earned his degree in physical education and health. He met his wife while both were coaching at Henry Hudson and the couple has been married for 38 years.
The only sad news of the night was Keansburg’s 49-30 loss to the Titans, but even that isn’t enough to crush the spirit of the smallest school in the Shore Conference. They face Keyport tonight (Jan. 31) at Keyport.
