David Schuman hired as Red Bank football head coach

Red Bank Regional has hired David Schuman as the school’s head football coach, athletic director Louis “Del” Dal Pra told Shore Sports Network on Wednesday.

While no issues are expected, Schuman's hiring is not official until he is approved at tonight's Red Bank Regional Board of Education meeting.

Schuman replaces Nick Giglio, who resigned in December after nine seasons. Giglio went 40-52 leading the Bucs (2009-2018) with the best season coming in 2015 when Red Bank went 11-1 and reached the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 3 championship game. In the four years prior to Giglio becoming Red Bank’s head coach, the Bucs had a 4-36 record, including an 0-10 season in 2008. Red Bank went 24-18 over Giglio’s final four seasons.

Schuman was an All-State running back at Saddle Brook High School before playing linebacker at the University of Connecticut, graduating in 1996. He became the head coach at Saddle Brook where he went 7-13 in two seasons from 2005 to 2006. He then moved on to Palisades Park where he helped turn around a program that had to cancel its 2009 season because of low participation numbers. The Tigers went 9-3 and reached the North 2, Group 3 sectional final in 2012 and went 8-2 in 2013. Schuman’s record at Palisades Park was 24-27 from 2008-2013 (not counting the 2009 season). Schuman was 4-16 in his two years at Indian Hills. He was a two-time Bergen County Coach of the Year.

“I am sad to see coach Giglio move on, but totally understand why,” Del Pra said. “He has a great son and wonderful daughter who are also incredible athletes and he wants to see them play and grow up. This time as a parent will be over in a flash and if we don’t stop and enjoy them, we will regret it. On the other hand, I am excited to see coach Schuman work with our kids and our coaching staff.”

Del Pra noted Schuman’s impressive resume stood out among a group of 21 applicants who were invited to participate in a multi-round interview process. Del Pra said there were three dozen applicants for the initial job posting.

Aside from being a high school head coach, Schuman is well-known and well-regarded in football circles as the owner of the National Underclassmen Combine, which identifies and scouts football across the United States. Schuman also owns and operates Inspired Athletes NFL Agency where he is an agent for pro football players.

“RBR getting coach Schuman is not only a big coup for Red Bank, but the entire Shore Conference,” said current Ohio State defensive coordinator and former San Francisco 49ers assistant coach Jeff Hafley via a press release. “He brings a lot of big North Jersey high school football experience and college contacts that will benefit the whole conference and there is no coach better at getting kids recruited.”

“Coach Schuman and Red Bank are a perfect fit,” said former Rutgers head coach and current University of Alabama assistant Kyle Flood. “He is getting a program in the middle of a huge upswing.  I only wish my son could play for him.”

Red Bank will play its 100^th season of football in 2019, beginning with a home game versus Freehold on September 6. The Bucs went 7-3 this past season and reached the Central Jersey Group 3 semifinals where they lost to eventual sectional champion and NJSIAA South Group 3 Bowl Game champion Rumson-Fair Haven. Their other defeats came to Non-Public Group 3 champion Red Bank Catholic and Central Jersey Group 4/South Group 4 Bowl champion Long Branch. They finished the season ranked No. 7 in the Shore Sports Network Top 10.

Among the Bucs’ returners for next year are running back Makai Mickens, quarterback Jack Chamberlain, linebacker Kyle Weisman and wide receiver/defensive back Nick Ferrogine. Mickens was an SSN second-team All-Shore selection after rushing for 1,206 yards and 13 touchdowns to become Red Bank’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2004. Ferrogine was a third-team All-Shore selection at defensive back.

Red Bank’s hiring of Schuman filled the remaining Shore Conference football coaching vacancy.

Managing editor Bob Badders can be reached at bob.badders@townsquaremedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Bob_Badders. Like Shore Sports Network on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel for all the latest video highlights.