Tag: Zoran Milich

by Mike Pavlichko

Gameday with Marcus Borden: Week 1

Opening Week is behind us, it’s Week One where everyone gets into the act in high school football, and it’s time to talk about it with Marcus Borden!

Mike and Marcus look back at the week gone by, including a big win for Old Bridge down at the Battle of the Beach over Cedar Creek, Arique Fleming’s masterful performance for Elizabeth in a rivalry game win over Linden, and then peek ahead to this week’s games, including those Coach Borden will see: Somerville at Cranford on Friday night, and Bernards at Hillside on Saturday.

Also on the show, we discuss other key games in the BCC, Montgomery adding longtime founding coach Zoran Milich’s name to Cougar Stadium, and our new feature, the “Speedster of the Week” presented by Higgins Speed Lab, with the Week 0 winner being Summit’s Alex Schwark.

Click below to listen to the Week One edition of “Gameday with Marcus Borden”:

by Mike Pavlichko

Montgomery H.S. honors longtime football mentor Zoran Milich with field renaming

He spent nearly a quarter century coaching Montgomery football, but that’s not even half the story.

Zoran Milich won over 100 games over 23 varsity seasons after starting the program from scratch, and that’s still not even the whole story.

He built it from the ground up, guiding hundreds upon hundreds of student-athletes, on and off the field. He was a teacher, coach, mentor and friend. And for those who don’t know, now everyone will know.

On Tuesday, the school unveiled its plans to honor Milich – who’s still teaching there, just not coaching football for the first time in a long time – by renaming the football field in his honor, with a sign over the entrance that also explains how Milich was all four of those things.

The sign will read “Welcome to Cougar Stadium: Zoran Milich Field.” Athletic Director Kris Grundy says that will go up in the next week or so.

A sign proclaiming “Milich Field” also will be placed on a sign atop the scoreboard, centered around the Montgomery “M” logo; Grundy says that will be unveiled at halftime the Cougars’ October 3rd home game against Linden.

Milich stepped down from the program over the winter, in the off-season, and his offensive coordinator, Sean Carty, was chosen as his successor. So far, so good, by the way, as the Cougars came away with a season-opening overtime win over Hopewell Valley in Week Zero. They host Summit Friday night.

by Mike Pavlichko

Piscataway’s Dan Higgins inducted into NJFCA Hall of Fame; Montgomery’s Milich receives Lifetime Achievement Award at Phil Simms North/South All-Star Classic

When Dan Higgins – the longtime head football coach at Piscataway High School – was inducted into the New Jersey Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame this weekend, the honor may have given Piscataway a quite distinct one.

It’s unknown (though we’ll try and dig to find out) whether anyone else has had three consecutive Hall of Fame coaches spanning 55 years in any other program in New Jersey, but that’s what Piscataway now has.

Higgins was inducted along with three others – while Montgomery’s Zoran Milich, who stepped down as coach earlier this year, was given the Dr. John Bateman Lifetime Achievement Award – Sunday afternoon at the Phil Simms North/South All-Star Classic at Kean University in Union.

Higgins’ late father, Tom, was Piscataway’s coach from 1970 through 1989, and Dan was a waterboy for him before he was even a teenager. The senior Higgins was inducted in 2001. Joe Kuronyi succeeded him, coaching from 1990 through 2002, and was enshrined in 2010. Now Higgins, who has been coach since 2003, is in the Hall of Fame with them.

Longtime Piscataway football coach Dan Higgins was inducted into the NJFCA Hall of Fame Saturday at the Phil Simms North/South All-Star Classic at Kean University in Union. (Graphic by John Thompson)

That means that for all but eleven years of Piscataway football’s 66-year history on the gridiron, they were led by a Hall of Fame coach.

How many schools can claim that?

Higgins is 173-58 in 21 seasons (Piscataway sat out fall sports in 2020 due to COVID) and has won seven state titles, with ten championship games berths. (New Jersey didn’t start playing to group champions until 2022.) Koronyi won a title in 2002, and Tom Higgins won championships in 1974 – the first year of the playoff era – and 1981. Dan Higgins’ 2018 team won the inaugural North Group 5 NJSIAA “regional bowl” championship, beating Ridgewood at MetLife Stadium.

Zoran Milich – who founded the Montgomery program more than two decades ago, and just stepped down in the off-season – was given the John Bateman Lifetime Achievement Award. Milich won his 100th game this past season, and finishes his tenure at the helm of the Cougar program with a record of 104-121-1. His longtime offensive coordinator, Sean Carty, now is leading the program.

Former longtime Montgomery football coach Zoran Milich was honored with the Dr. John Bateman Lifetime Achievement Award by the NJFCA at the Phil Simms North/South All-Star Classic on Sunday at Kean University in Union. (Source: @FootballMonty on Twitter)

Click here to read out story on Milich from late-January, including a one-on-one interview.

Also inducted into the NJFCA Hall of Fame along with Higgins were:

  • Longtime Morris County coach Cosmo LoRusso, who coached at Roxbury, Sussex Tech and Pequannock
  • Nine-time state champion Joe Rotondo, who was head coach at Union City and has been a part of nine state champions, now an offensive line coach at St. Peter’s Prep
  • Longtime Cranford and AL Johnson coordinator Joe Hubert

Click below to hear Dan Higgins talk with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko about his induction into the NJFCA Hall of Fame, and his long career with the Chiefs’ program:

What about the game?

The South beat the North 19-18, with the event now split 21-21 with two ties. And two Big Central standouts were critical in the win. Derek Anderson of Woodbridge won the Offensive MVP award, while his twin brother Brian was the Defensive MVP. Both will be playing at West Chester in the fall.

by Mike Pavlichko

They don’t make ’em like this anymore: Marcus Borden talks about longtime football coaches Dave DeNapoli, Zoran Milich hanging them up

First, there was Zoran Milich stepping down, the only man ever to coach Montgomery High School football. That was back in Janaury, after a quarter century building and running the Cougars’ program.

This week, it was Dunellen’s Dave DeNapoli, who has been the Destroyers’ coach since 1996, stepping down after 29 years at the helm. A lifelong Dunellen resident, DeNapoli played quarterback there, graduating in 1975.

There are few left like these two. While many coaches have been around a long time – like Joe Goerge, who has had great success at places like Woodbridge last year, Franklin, South Brunswick and Dayton, where he completely restarted the program – few grow up, play and coach in the same time.

The last of their breed in our area would be Rich Marchesi, who has won well over 200 games and is the winningest coach in Rams’ history. This upcoming season will be his 29th on the sidelines.

Rich Marchesi and his players on the sideline in an August 28, 2021 game against South Plainfield. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)

We sat down with Central Jersey Sports Radio football analyst Marcus Borden to talk about DeNapoli’s retirement, Zoran Milich stepping aside, and the dedication these longtime coaches have shown to their football programs, their schools, and their communities. Click below to listen:

by Mike Pavlichko

Montgomery introduces Sean Carty as new football coach, just second in program history

It’s not usually a great idea to follow a legend, the one every successor will be measured up against.

There’s always an exception to the rule, and this might be a textbook exception.

After nearly three decades of Zoran Milich creating, building, and coaching the Montgomery football program the reins have officially been handed over to Sean Carty – part of the Cougar football family for almost a decade – to take over as just the second head coach of the program in Monty history.

READ MORE: Zoran Milich, who built Montgomery football from the beginning, talks about stepping down

Carty has been the Offensive Coordinator for years, but has been teaching in Montgomery since 2011, joining Milich’s staff in 2018. But he was no stranger to Milich, who played his high school football at Somerville, and was on Kevin Carty, Sr.’s staff when his son Sean was playing.

Already a mentor, Sean went to Rutgers, and was coaching with his brother, Kevin Jr., at Bound Brook until 2010, then later at Hillsborough until a position opened up on the staff at Montgomery.

A circuitous route, no doubt, but Carty has more than paid his dues. And now, he’s the third of the Carty family sons to be a head coach. Kevin Jr. is still at Hillsborough – Montgomery’s neighbor along Route 206 – and Ryan just finished his first season as the head coach at the University of Delaware.

Carty was introduced at the school Wednesday afternoon, but we caught up with him by phone Tuesday night before his big day.

And if the results of the rest of his coaching family are any indication, and if he’s learned anything from Milich, his longtime mentor, there will be many big days ahead for Sean Carty and Montgomery football.

Click here to listen to new Montgomery football coach Sean Carty talk with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko about taking over the Cougar program

And what does Milich think about all this?

“This is a home run hire!” he told Central Jersey Sports Radio Tuesday afternoon, calling him “the perfect choice.”

“He is totally prepared for this opportunity after putting in many years mastering all three phases of the game — as an offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, and special teams coach. On top of that, he’s deeply committed to building the future of the program,” Milich said, noting Carty just kicked off a tackle youth football program this past season, and that he’s always busy running a variety of youth football initiatives.

“His passion, leadership, and dedication to developing young athletes is unmatched. I have no doubt he will elevate the program to new heights while continuing to build a culture of excellence, integrity, and heart. Montgomery football is in great hands.” 

by Mike Pavlichko

Zoran Milich, who built Montgomery football from the beginning, talks about stepping down, but not necessarily out of the game

Zoran Milich has had his share of successes at Montgomery, building the football program from the ground up in 2000, sending countless players on the the next level, and winning a lot of football games.

But at least for now, Milich needs a time out.

Milich announced Thursday he would step down from the football program, but isn’t calling it a retirement.

He’s been nagged by some health problems over the years, and has missed a few games here and there because of it. To borrow a phrase from the sitcom “Friends,” he’s – at the very least – going on “a break” from coaching.

In 23 varsity seasons, the first coming in 2002, Milich – and the Cougars’ program, since he’s been their only head coach – has a record of 104-121-1, that tie coming just two years ago against Linden.

READ MORE: Milich earns 100th career coaching win – all at Montgomery

After an 8-1-1 year with a senior-heavy squad in 2023, the Cougars were 1-9 in 2024 after graduating a slew of seniors from an immensely veteran and talented group, but expect to be much improved as younger players who got a lot of experience this past fall return.

It wasn’t an easy decision to step aside, but at the end of the day, Milich told Central Jersey Sports Radio this week he needed to do what was best for himself, and that meant not coaching unless he felt he could give it everything he got.

While he says he’ll still be involved in football again, some day, it won’t be as a head coach at Montgomery. While he loves it there – and he plans to remain in the building as a social studies teacher – Milich wants to turn it over to someone who will be there for a long time, maybe as long as he was.

He says the administration has always been supportive of him, and continues to be, whether it’s his Athletic Director Kris Grundy, who’s also the Monty boys’ basketball coach, or Principal Heather Pino-Beattie.

Take a look on social media: between the three of them, you may never see a coach, AD, and principal who, in toto, are as passionate about supporting and promoting their students as they are.

And Milich hopes, whoever they choose, that person will fit the same mold.

Montgomery’s Zoran Milich talks with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko about stepping down.

“Coach Milich is one of my best friends and one of the most loyal and passionate individuals I’ve ever been around,” Grundy told Central Jersey Sports Radio. “He has taught me so much about coaching and about life in general. I am forever grateful for his friendship and all of the lessons he has taught me through the years.”

But even more, he added, “Thee entire Montgomery athletic community – not just the football program – is better for having Coach Milich as our head football coach for the last 25 years.”

Pino-Beattie also praised Milich.

“Throughout my years as an athlete and educator, I have never encountered a teacher or coach who has made as profound an impact on kids, in the classroom and on the field, as Zoran has,” Pino-Beattie said.

“Year after year, students, athletes, and parents return to share stories of how he has changed the trajectory of their lives. While the big games and incredible lessons are memorable, it’s the small, thoughtful gestures that truly set him apart. He has a unique ability to make everyone feel valued and like they belong, as if they’re the most important person in the world in that moment,” she said.

“We are all better people for having Zoran in our lives,” Pino-Beattie added. “I’m proud to call him my friend and grateful for the privilege of cheering him and our kids on from the sidelines for the past 15 years! His legacy will live on through the players, the coaches, and the memories.”

A successor has not yet been chosen. Milich says he’s made his recommendation, and will leave it at that, acknowledging there’s a whole process that will have to take place to find the next coach.

One of the more likely candidates could be Sean Carty, his offensive coordinator.

Carty has filled in for Milich on those few games he had to miss, including one notable one in 2021, during the pandemic, when the NJSIAA told schools they would not do the handshake line after games, for fear of COVID. Turns out, one of those games, Montgomery was playing Hillsborough, coached by Sean’s brother, Kevin.

So, after the game – even though they were brothers – they just had to wave at each other.

“Coach Milich has been an incredible influence and steady support throughout my athletic and professional journey,” Carty told Central Jersey Sports Radio.

“He coached me during my time at Somerville High School as part of my father’s (Kevin Carty, Sr.’s) staff and now I have had the privilege of teaching and coaching with him at Montgomery High School,” Carty added. “The opportunity to be a part of this amazing community has been life-changing for my family and me.”

by Mike Pavlichko

Milich earns 100th career coaching win – all at Montgomery – in win over Scotch Plains

At the end of the night, the score mattered, but was irrelevant at the same time.

Fifth-ranked Montgomery easily dispatched of visiting Scotch Plains-Fanwood, 35-0 Friday night in Skillman.

But it wasn’t the 35 that mattered, or the zero for that matter. It was a one followed by two zeroes, as in 100, the number of career victories earned by Cougars head coach Zoran Milich.

To be precise, his program has 103 wins, but Milich will have none of that. He missed three games in the last couple of years due to injury or illness, and he didn’t want credit for those three wins.

So, win No. 100 came Friday night, October 13, 2023, More than two decades after he started a Montgomery program with some players who didn’t even know how to pull their pants on.

Zoran Milich’s players are all smiles after their coach notched his 100th career win – all at Montgomery – with a 35-0 victory over visiting Scotch Plains-Fanwood on October 13, 2023. (Photo credit: Sara Kendall)

The kids on the current team? They know how to do way more than that.

Friday night, Brady Post ran for three touchdowns, and the Michael Schmelzer, Jr.-Matt Davino connection struck again, too, while Schmelzer himself also ran one in for a touchdown.

The win – for the immediate moment, not including any other Friday results – keeps the Cougars (8-0) in fifth in the North Group 4 playoff section, with fourth-place Ridge not in action until Saturday afternoon at Westfield.

The Raiders fell to 1-7 on the year.

by Mike Pavlichko

No. 6 Montgomery stands tall with backs to the goal line for wild 27-21 win at No. 10 Somerville

In a battle of undefeated, 3-0 teams, where both teams made big play after big play on offense, defense and special teams, it was Montgomery that made one more big play than Somerville.

After taking a 27-14 lead with two fourth quarter touchdowns – including a 66-yard pass play from Michael Schmelzer, Jr., to Matthew D’Avino – the No. 10 Pioneers got back to within a touchdown, held the Cougars to a three-and-out, and got the ball back with 1:36 left and a chance to win.

But for the second straight year, 6th-ranked Montgomery would not be denied. Almost, but not quite.

On fourth-down they got a huge pass play from Brenden Pacheco to Quinn Carran for 63 yards to the Monty 30, then worked their way to a first-and-ten at the 16 with 30 seconds left.

Pacheco’s first pass to Mitchell fell incomplete. Montgomery got called for pass interference on second down, leaving 9.4 seconds on the clock. Pacheco connected with Quinn Carran on second down again, but he came down out of bounds five yards past the goal line.

And on the final play of the game, Matt D’Avino broke up one last pass from Pacheco that would have tied the game, and given ‘Ville a chance to win it on the PAT.

The aerial attack was the story overall, with Pacheco and Schmelzer combining for 550 passing yards. Pacheco finished with 329 and two TDs, while Schmelzer had 221 yards and two TD passes, while running for a third.

Montgomery is off to a 4-0 start, while Somerville took its first loss and falls to 3-1.

Click below for postgame reaction with Mike Pavlichko presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:

Montgomery senior QB Michael Schmelzer, Jr.
Montgomery head coach Zoran Milich
by Mike Pavlichko

No. 6 Montgomery takes solid start into Somerville for Friday matchup with No. 10 Pioneers in battle of unbeatens

Last year’s 3-0 start for the Montgomery football was in serious jeopardy at halftime of their game against Somerville last year in Skillman, with the Cougars down 14-13.

Then they opened up the passing game, ran a hook-and-lateral, and came back for a 27-21 victory. The eventually won five in a row before taking their first loss, setting a new mark for best start to a season in program history.

They come into this year’s game in the same position, 3-0, with high-scoring wins over Robbinsville, Franklin, and Plainfield. With many of the same offensive contributors as last season – led by third-year starting quarterback Michael Schmelzer, his top receiver Matt D’Avino, and leading rusher Brady Post – the Cougars are averaging 35.3 points a game this season.

But the Cougars also have excelled defensively, allowing an average of just nine points per game while holding two of its first three opponents to single digits. Head coach Zoran Milich feels a combination of solid run defense and pressure on the quarterback have been a big part of their defensive success, which may face its stiffest test yet tonight: Somerville – also 3-0 – is scoring 34 points per game.

You can hear Friday night’s matchup at Brooks Field in Somerville on Central Jersey Sports Radio, with kickoff set for 7:00, and pregame at 6:45. Mike Pavlichko and Chris Tsakonas will call all the action. Click here to listen.

Click below to hear Montgomery head coach Zoran Milich talk about the Cougars and the matchup against Somerville:

by Mike Pavlichko

Dynamic duo of Schmelzer, D’Avino aim to take Montgomery to the next level

So many successful high school football teams get that extra boost when a group of players have known each other their whole lives, and develop a bond.

Michael Schmelzer, Jr. and Matt D’Avino weren’t always the best of friends, but that competitiveness – going back to fourth grade for the duo – has made their bond tighter now that they’re on the same team, and have been for several years.

The two seniors figure most prominently when Schmelzer is throwing the ball on offense, and D’Avino is catching it. And, of course, there is the steadying hand of Zoran Milich, who’s now in his 22nd season as Montgomery’s varsity head coach, the only one the program has ever had.

But Schmelzer and D’Avino put up big numbers last year, and more of the same – and more of it – are expected this season. Schmelzer threw for 1,658 yards and 25 touchdowns a year ago, while D’Avino’s 1,053 yards receiving and 14 TDs represent about a third of his quarterback’s output.

That’s a combo you just can’t make up.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko at Big Central Media Day’s with Montgomery Head coach Zoran Milich and seniors Michael Schmelzer, Jr., and Matt D’Avino: