Wednesday, July 6, 2022
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Sports & Recreation
Sean Dolaghan replaces Huaranga as Harrison High School’s Athletic Director By Jason Bernstein jason@theoserver.com
When Sean Dolaghan stepped down as Harrison’s head baseball coach due to his growing family, he anticipated the possibility of returning to high school athletics when his two children got older. Nine years later, that opportunity presented itself for the Harrison native. On June 23, Dolaghan was formally approved as the school’s athletic director. Dolaghan officially took over the job this past Friday, replacing Kim Huaranga, who after 10 years in the position, became a vice principal in the town’s Early Childhood Program. “I was always interested in finding my way back to sports,” Dolaghan said. “I always hoped that maybe when the kids got older, I would come back to coaching. But once Kim let us know that she was taking a different position, I jumped on the opportunity to be the next AD.” As a math teacher at Washington Middle School, Dolaghan has remained quite familiar with the athletics program and the coaches and players that have been a part of it. His first order of business is reaching out to those coaches as summer leagues and offseason practices start in earnest. “I definitely want to get in touch with my coaches after the Fourth of July. I’m going to reach out to all of them,” Dolaghan said. “I know almost all of them. Ray Lucas, Mike Rusek and Nick Landy I’m very close with. Jose Camano, Barry Mattern were former players of mine.” Dolaghan, a Lyndhurst resident, has remained involved in athletics on the youth level during this time, coaching his 10-year-old son Jake’s Little League baseball
Photo courtesy Kim Huaranga
and travel basketball teams, while also helping out as a soccer coach for his 8-year-old daughter Quinn. “My kids were probably more excited than anybody,” Dolaghan said. “I think my two kids wanted me to get the job more than anyone I know.” Before stepping aside as head baseball coach, Dolaghan led the Blue Tide to consecutive Hudson County Tournament quarterfinals appearances. During that time, they upset perennial power St. Peter’s Prep in the first round in 2011. Then, a year later, Harrison knocked off defending champion Hoboken, which was led by First Team All-State pitcher Kenny Roder, 1-0, in the first round. Despite going to Queen of Peace High School, Harrison athletics were a key part of Dolaghan’s youth. He always made an attempt to see his friends in action and remembers watching Ray Lucas and Jody Hill play basketball in front of sold out crowds. “Even though I didn’t attend Harrison High School, all of my best friends still lived in Harrison so I went to all of their games when I could,”
said Dolaghan. “They’re all reaching out to me, supporting me, saying anything I need, they’re going to be there for me. “Former students of mine who now play in college or played in college I want to bring them all back and get them involved. I want to get the whole community involved. I want to work closely with the rec center and I want to get the whole town involved.” While the boys’ soccer and boys’ volleyball teams remain among the best in the state, many of the school’s other programs have struggled in recent years. In addition to building relationships with the town’s rec programs, Dolaghan plans to place an emphasis on generating interest and enthusiasm within the building. “I want to try to get more kids in the high school to play sports and be more involved. I just want to get the kids excited about sports again,” he said. “Even the kids who don’t play sports, I want the students to come out and support the student-athletes. Just bring more positivity, have more kids coming to the games.”
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Several local high schools take part in Bloomfield summer basketball team said Passero, who went 19-7 last season. “We’re a young team so this is really, really As a boys’ basketball coach great for us because a lot of in Bloomfield for more than a our kids are getting varsity decade — first as an assistant level competition for the and then the last five years as first time. We’re seeing what head coach — Mike Passero they’re capable of doing and knows the value of summer it’s also opening their eyes in leagues in preparing players terms of what they need to for the high school season. do to get better. “Whether you have guys “You can talk to them returning or you have a about it and practice, but new group, there’s always until you play other varsity things to work out. And the level teams, sometimes you summer time is the best time just don’t get how physical for kids to develop,” Passero or how fast the game is and said. “That’s the biggest thing what really goes into it until in the summer. I think every you get experience.” team, including ours, you Among the benefits really start to see kids take of such a large league is that next step in the summer that participants get to time to prepare themselves see all different types of for the winter.” competition during the Fortunately for Passero, five week season. Whether he doesn’t have to leave it be quick-paced guard Bloomfield to get his players oriented teams like Newark some of those much-needed West Side, teams boasting reps. For more than 15 years, impressive size in the the Bloomfield Summer paint like Newark Tech, or League, at the high school’s schools like Millburn and main and upper gyms, has Verona, which are more than been one of North Jersey’s comfortable in a grind it out better summer leagues. defensive slugfest, teams Area teams Bloomfield, are guaranteed to see many Belleville, Nutley and Kearny different styles and talent are once again among the 20 levels over the course of the participating in the league season. this year. In addition, for “We think that’s one of the first time, Harrison is the best parts of our league. participating in the league There’s something for primarily composed of everybody,” Passero said. schools from Essex County. “Everybody in the league, The league also features all 20 teams, gets something schools from Bergen and out of it because you get to Passaic counties as well. see different styles. You’re Other top teams in the going to see different styles league are Glen Ridge, throughout the season as which won the North 2, well, that’s a big benefit.” Group 1 title this past March, Play began June 20 with sectional finalists Caldwell each team getting eight and Newark West Side, as regular season games. Games well as also challenging foes Monday through Thursday like Montclair, Wayne Hills, at both gyms in the school, Verona and Seton Hall Prep, starting at 5 p.m. The playoffs which sends its talented JV start Monday, July 18 and team every year. conclude on the 21st with the “We lost a lot to graduation semifinals at 5:00 and 5:55 over the last two years, so p.m. with the final following we’re definitely a new team,” immediately after at 6:50. By Jason Bernstein
jason@theobserver.com
