Donovan Catholic Griffins Name Co-Coaches

Less than two months after announcing they would start a field hockey program Donovan Catholic High School Athletic Director Joe Gomulka has tabbed a pair of well-known figures in the sport to serve as co-head coaches. Debbie Schwartz and Dawn Dziedzic will share the position and guide the Griffins as they prepare to begin play next fall as an independent in the Shore Conference. Gomulka had previously announced that Donovan Catholic would field only a varsity team in their inaugural season with plans to expand the program in the future.

Schwartz, who is the Supervisor of Instruction for Health and Physical Education in the Toms River School District was an assistant under legendary Toms River North coach Becky Miller before becoming head coach at Toms River East. She went 70-37-12 in six seasons and guided the Raiders to a Shore Conference Tournament title and Class A South championship during her tenure. Most recently she has been a high school referee. Dziedzic, who is a math teacher at East was an assistant under Schwartz and has remained with the Raiders program for nearly 20 years.

The pair also coach the Donovan Catholic softball team with Schwartz serving as head coach and Dziedzic her assistant. They had a very successful tenure coaching the Toms River East softball program before coming over to the Griffins where they have gone 39-11 with a pair of Class B South titles in their first two seasons.

While most of the school’s athletic fields are located off campus, the field hockey facility will be near the football field which is behind the school on Hooper Avenue in Toms River. A grass area will be renovated and re-sodded in the spring and lights will be installed for night games.