Former St. Joseph-Metuchen head coach Rich Hilliard (File photo: Mike Pavlichko)
After five seasons leading the St. Joseph high school football team, Rich Hilliard is leaving Metuchen.
Hilliard – the third head coach in the Falcons’ short history – handed in his resignation this week, following a 3-6 season, with one COVID-related forfeit loss.
With a mark of 30-17 in his tenure at St. Joe’s, their best season under his tutelage was a 9-1 campaign in 2017, his first season with the Falcons.
He coached several D1 prospects, including big offensive lineman John Olmstead, who graduated in 2018 and went to Notre Dame; he later transferred to Lafayette. He also coaches Jon Sot’s senior year in 2017; he went on to Harvard and became the school’s best-ever punter.
Hilliard told Central Jersey Sports Radio Tuesday he’s not looking for another head coaching job, but he’d consider it if the right one comes along. He said he had been thinking about retiring for some time, and – for now – plans to get out his golf clubs and hit the links, and spend more time with his family.
Hilliard replaced Casey Ransone in 2017, who was 26-13 in four seasons, following Bob Molarz, who began the program, which played its first varsity season against an independent schedule in 2011, joining the Greater Middlesex Conference the next year.