Football: Justin Fumando out as head coach at Central Regional

Justin Fumando will not be returning for a fifth season as Central Regional’s head football coach.

Fumando told Shore Sports Network he was informed by administration on Friday afternoon that the position would be posted and he would not be rehired. He said wasn’t given a reason for not being brought back.

Central went 20-18 in four seasons under Fumando, including winning a share of the Class A South division title in 2017. He was selected as the Class A South Co-Coach of the Year in both 2016 and 2017.

Fumando broke the news to the team after school on Tuesday.

“It’s hardest for the kids going into their senior year who have spent three years in the program,” Fumando said.

"At this time the Central Regional School District does not have any comments," said Central athletic director John Scran.

Hired in May of 2016, Fumando was previously the defensive coordinator at Manalapan where he was an assistant for a total of seven years, helping the Braves become one of the top programs in the Shore. He was Manalapan’s defensive coordinator when it captured the 2014 NJSIAA Group 5 state title. Fumando is a 2000 graduate of Middletown North and played collegiately at Kean University, where upon graduation he became the defensive line coach while also serving as Kean’s head Strength and Conditioning coach for all the athletic programs.

“I’m going to explore other options and see what my next home is, coaching-wise,” Fumando said. “I’m still young enough and my family is going to support me. I’m not stuck on the head coaching title; I want to go where the best fit is whether that’s as a head coach or to be an assistant somewhere.”

“I want to thank all the players for buying into the way we did things and taking on all the challenges that were thrown in front of them, my coaching staff or sticking by me and all the parents and the community for all the support. In creating a program and a culture it takes all three of those things and we got it as close as we could."

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.