Nick Mariniello is back on the New Jersey coaching scene.
After a year off, Mariniello, 42, took the job at Hudson Catholic in Jersey City on Thursday.
“The school has a very rich tradition in athletics and academics,” Mariniello, who will continue to teach at West Caldwell Tech, said Friday by phone. “I think a lot of things are in place to be successful.”
As a Catholic regional school, Hudson Catholic can draw on players from throughout North Jersey and the state. Mariniello brings a proven track record of success and of sending kids to college, so you have to think it would be an attractive spot for some top players.
Mariniello posted a career record of 186-50 during nine years at Bloomfield Tech. He led the Spartans to four Group 1 state titles, two Tournament of Champions finals and one Essex County championship. He was named the New Jersey Coach of the Year in 2002-3 by the Star-Ledger. Mariniello was also the MSG Tri-State Coach of the Year in 2006-7. The Spartans were nationally ranked by USA Today in 2003-4 and in 2005-6 they finished 17th in the nation.
In 2007, Mariniello was named the head coach of Sonny Vaccaro’s original Roundball Classic. A year later, he was a head coach in the Jordan Brand Regional Game at Madison Square Garden.
Mariniello has sent 10 players to the Division I and II ranks, including Casiem Drummond of Villanova, Da’Sean Butler of West Virginia, Rashon Dwight of Iona, Wesley Jenkins of St. Peter’s and RJ Hall of Marist.
He said the year off helped him immensely.
“I was able to see a lot of practices and games, and watched a lot of former players play games,” he said. “I recharged my batteries and now I’m ready to go.”
