Longtime South River coach Rich Marchesi paces the sideline during a game against South Plainfield on August 28, 2021. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
Rules, offenses, defenses, power points and UPR: there have been so many changes in the game of football – specifically at the high school level – in the last 36 years.
But in South River, one thing has remained constant: the head coach.
Rich Marchesi is entering his 37th year at the helm of the storied Rams’ program, having been the head coach since 1988. He’s won over 200 games, with a record of 225-138, and is the all-time winningest coach in school history.
This year will bring even more change, as the team will still play on its home field at Bill Denny Stadium, but no one will be in those large, expansive stands.
They’ve been condemned, cordoned off due to safety concerns since the spring, and will await the wrecking ball, along with a referendum this November to build a new seating area, press box, and even replace the well-worn natural grass field with synthetic turf.
This year, temporary stands will be brought in for fans.
Wednesday, at Big Central Media Days, Marchesi – a South River alum who played at Denny Stadium himself – fielded a question on how the game has changed in his long tenure as South River head coach.
Click below to hear his answer:
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