Schools

From Bosco to Bergen: DeMenna Dons Crusader Red as Baseball Coach

Former Don Bosco coach Mark DeMenna was named to lead the Bergen Catholic baseball program this spring

Former Don Bosco head coach Mark DeMenna will be donning Bergen red this spring as the Waldwick native was named as Jim Burt Jr.'s successor to lead the Crusaders.

DeMenna spent one-year guiding the Ironmen (25-1) to the 2011 Bergen County Championship as well as the 2011 Big North United Division Title before falling to the Crusaders in the state playoffs. He was later fired by Don Bosco with the school claiming it was 'seeking a new direction'.

“It’s an absolute honor to be chosen and I know there were some pretty good candidates out there, but it’s very refreshing to know that I have a lot of supporters, and to be chosen for this position is very humbling," DeMenna said in a press release. "Bergen Catholic is synonymous with chasing excellence, and that’s what our goal is, to constantly chase excellence from a day-to-day basis and get these boys prepared to be better people, better students, and better athletes, so I look forward to doing that.” 

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DeMenna, who was an All-County and All-State baseball player at Waldwick High School, now becomes Bergen Catholic's ninth coach in program history. He went on to become an All-American while attending William Paterson University where he won The College World Series and was named the Most Valuable Player for the tournament. 

“I consider myself lucky to have been able to hire such an exceptional person for our coaching vacancy, this close to the start of the season," Bergen Athletic Director Jack McGovern said. "I was amazed and honored by the deep field of excellent candidates who applied for our baseball coaching position, but I believe that Mark was the perfect choice for BC. He is an engaging personality who has a passion for the game and strives for academic and athletic excellence for our student-athletes. It is an exciting time for the Crusader baseball program, and I look forward to a great future with Mark DeMenna as Bergen Catholic’s head coach."

Find out what's happening in River Dellwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Crusaders, under four-year head coach Burt (67-43), went 15-11 during their 2012 campaign prior to leaving this winter

DeMenna inherits a team that will be heavily anchored by seniors Zach Cerbo (Arizona State), Jeff Granger, Liam Flanagan, Joe Esposito, and AJ Gallagher; juniors Jared Finkel, Ray Maresca and Matt Millus; and sophomore Mike Martinez.


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