Football – St. John Vianney Brings in Former Holmdel Head Coach Greg LaCava as Offensive Coordinator

As part of several staff changes, St. John Vianney introduced former Holmdel head coach Greg LaCava as its offensive coordinator during a team meeting on Tuesday afternoon.

LaCava coached Holmdel this past season when the Hornets finished 1-8. He resigned on December 28, according to Holmdel athletic director Shane Fallon. St. John Vianney's offensive and defensive coordinators last season, Jim Reid and Mike Tedeschi, recently resigned, as well, leaving an opening on head coach Derek Sininsky's staff. Quarterbacks coach Tom O'Keefe, who had come out of retirement on a one-year agreement prior to last season, also resigned.

LaCava was previously the head coach at Colts Neck and at Allentown. He coached Colts Neck from 2009 to 2013, leading the Cougars to the Central Jersey Group IV final in 2013. Sininsky and LaCava have a long history of working together. The two were on Bob Generelli's staff at Middletown South in 1992 and 1993, and followed him to Raritan. Sininsky was on LaCava's staff at Colts Neck and at briefly at Holmdel before being named St. John Vianney head coach just prior to last season.

"The No. 1 thing is we have the same exact offensive philosophy," Sininsky said. "We are both disciples of coach Generelli, and we've branched off of that. We have the same terminology and the same philosophies when it comes to running and passing. I just like how he runs his offense."

Jack Nascimento, who was with LaCava at Holmdel and Colts Neck, will be the new quarterbacks coach. Sininsky will also serve as the defensive coordinator.

"The whole thing just made sense," Sininsky said. "He's been a successful head coach and he brings a great offensive mind with him in Jack. Bringing them over here is a tremendous asset to our program. We feel this is a home run."

St. John Vianney set a single-season program record with 11 wins last season while reaching the Non-Public Group III final, its first state finals appearance since 1982. The Lancers also set a single-season program record with 517 points and led the Shore Conference in scoring at 43 points per game. The Lancers won the Class A Central title, marking the first time in program history they have won consecutive division titles.

The Lancers will have to replace multiple standouts from last season's team, however, led by the Shore Sports Network Offensive Player of the Year, quarterback Anthony Brown and also including linebacker Calvin Beaty, defensive back Khalil Haskins and wide receivers Mike Stapert, Marcque Ellington and Jeff Sheard.

St. John Vianney does return two-way lineman Micah Clark, who is one of the top lineman in New Jersey, as well as standouts Tyler Tedeschi at linebacker and Chris Chukwuneke at running back.

With LaCava's resignation there are now head coaching vacancies at Holmdel, Toms River East and Donovan Catholic.

Football editor Bob Badders can be reached at badders@allshoremedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Bob_Badders. Like Shore Sports Network on Facebook.