Derek Sininsky Named New Football Coach at St. John Vianney to Replace Ciccotelli
Two days after the stunning announcement that Mark Ciccotelli is no longer the head football coach at St. John Vianney, the school announced on Monday afternoon that former Raritan, Monmouth and Marlboro head coach Derek Sininsky is the Lancers' new head man.
"Saint John Vianney High School announces Mr. Mark Ciccotelli's resignation as head varsity football coach,'' a news release from athletic director Rich Lamberson said. "We have accepted his resignation and wish Mr. Ciccotelli nothing but the best with all of his future endeavors and respect both his and his family's right to privacy. We hope that all of you will do the same.
"Mr. Derek Sininsky, a well-known coach and educator in New Jersey, has agreed to fill the void left by Mr. Ciccotelli's absence. We expect the Saint John Vianney high school football program to continue with its goal of excellent athletes and sportsmanship."
As first reported by Shore Sports Network on Sunday, Sininsky, who was set to be an assistant at Holmdel under new coach Greg LaCava this season before taking the St. John Vianney job, has a career record of 30-60 at three different programs. He was most recently the coach at Marlboro, where the Mustangs went 9-41 in his five seasons from 2008-2012. Sininsky also was the head coach at Monmouth Regional for one season in 2005, leading the Falcons to a 5-5 finish, and then served as the defensive coordinator at Pinelands in 2006-07.
His first head coaching job was at Raritan from 2001-03 after serving as an assistant under Hall of Famer Bob Generelli, who Sininsky also coached under during Generelli's successful earlier stint at Middletown South. Sininsky was the head coach at Raritan from 2001-2003, finishing 16-14, including a 7-3 season, a share of the Liberty Division title and a state playoff appearance in 2003. Sininsky played linebacker at Mater Dei Prep in the late 1980s/early 1990s and played collegiately at Montclair State.
No official reason has been given by Lamberson for Ciccotelli's departure, and Ciccotelli has not returned any calls for comment. Lamberson is a Raritan graduate who has ties to Sininsky from his time there and also coached with him at Monmouth.
Sininsky inherits a loaded team led by senior quarterback Anthony Brown, a Boston College recruit, senior linebacker Calvin Beaty, senior cornerback Khalil Haskins and junior lineman Micah Clark. Several of the Lancers' top players, including Beaty and Haskins, transferred into the school before last season, so it remains to be seen if they decide to stay after the coaching change with preseason camp coming up in only about two weeks. Any player who transfers would have to have a bona fide change of address in order to avoid sitting out the first 30 days of the season by NJSIAA rule.
In Ciccotelli's only season with St. John Vianney in 2014, the Lancers tied a school record with 10 wins last season and won their first division title since 1982 and first state playoff game since 1981.