Shore Sports Network Assistant Coaches of the Year: Chip LaBarca Jr. and Jerry Schulte

This year, Shore Sports Network is also recognizing the top assistant coaches who had a crucial influence on their teams’ success this season.

OFFENSE

Chip LaBarca Jr., Offensive Coordinator, Brick

Former Toms River North head coach Chip LaBarca Jr. joined the staff at Brick this season and made an immediate impact as offensive coordinator under head coach Rob Dahl while guiding a unit led by his nephew, junior quarterback Carmen Sclafani, who also transferred from Toms River North to Brick.

Under LaBarca’s spread system, the Green Dragons went from averaging 13 points a game to 26 this season while becoming the first team to produce a pair of 1,000-yard rushers since Shore Regional in 2010 when Sclafani and junior Ray Fattaruso both passed the mark. Brick scored 35, 45, and 26 points in three state playoff games en route to winning the Central Jersey Group IV title, its first state title since 1994. It marked the second state championship LaBarca has been a part of in the past six years, as he also led Toms River North to an undefeated season in 2007 as head coach.

DEFENSE

Jerry Schulte, Defensive Coordinator, Rumson-Fair Haven

For the second time in four seasons, Rumson-Fair Haven faced a daunting task in a state final, and for the second time in four seasons, Jerry Schulte (above, right with his son, Rumson assistant Jeremy Schulte) came up with a gameplan to stifle an explosive team and bring home a state championship.

Rumson beat previously undefeated Weequahic 14-6 to win the Central Jersey Group II title after the Indians entered the game averaging 39 points per game. It was reminiscent of Rumson’s 13-7 win over previously undefeated Matawan in the 2010 Central Jersey Group II final when the Huskies entered averaging 38 points per game. Against Weequahic, the Bulldogs limited the Indians to 161 total yards to cap a season in which Rumson won a school-record 11 games. Schulte, a former head coach at multiple schools, has been a magician in state finals.

Since 2010, his teams have only allowed 13 points in three state final games combined, including a 3-0 loss to Matawan in 2011. Matawan’s only touchdown in the 2010 upset came on a punt return. This season, the Bulldogs allowed 11 points per game and only allowed 20 or more points twice in 12 games.