Football: Nick Gregorio Steps Down at Wall

Nick Gregorio said Friday that he has resigned for personal and professional reasons after two seasons as Wall's head football coach.

The Crimson Knights went a combined 5-14-1 in two seasons under Gregorio after graduating nearly their entire starting lineup from the 2011 team that won a division title. This past fall, they started 3-0 before losing seven straight games to end the season, although they did make a state playoff appearance, losing to rival Manasquan in the first round in South Jersey Group III. Gregorio came to Wall after a two-year stint as the head coach at A.L. Johnson, which included a state playoff appearance in 2009, and one year as an assistant at Kean University.

"I'd like to thank the players, parents, administration and the entire community for their dedication and support,'' Gregorio said. "The program is in real good shape. We've made progress moving forward, and program numbers have increased each year."

"We're very grateful for the hard work that Nick put in,'' said athletic director Tom Ridoux. "He gave a tremendous amount of time and energy to the program."

The Crimson Knights are opening the search immediately and hope to have a new coach in place by mid-May, according to Ridoux. Gregorio's resignation now leaves openings at Holmdel, Wall, Neptune and Asbury Park in the Shore Conference.