New coach Matt Martin ready to add to family's Toms River South football legacy
Matt Martin was a talented quarterback and team leader for Toms River South entering the 2000 season. But, a broken leg put an unexpected end to his final campaign on the gridiron.
Instead of lamenting on the sideline, he decided to aid his grandfather, head coach Ron Signorino Sr., and uncle, assistant coach Ron Signorino Jr., on the coaching side of the game.
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“It was just so intriguing to me, as far as the chess matches that are played between the coaches and the teams,” Martin said. “It was something that I’d go home and I would really think about, and I’d come back into the coach’s room because at this point, I’m a former player and they listened to me.”
It was during this time in his senior year Martin knew he wanted to one day lead Toms River South on the sidelines. More than two decades later, his dream will come into full fruition this fall when Martin makes his debut as the Indians head coach, taking over for his uncle who resigned in April .
“Once I made the decision [that] I’m going to be an educator and a coach, my heart was always at Toms River South and to be able to step into this opportunity is just a blessing,” Martin said.
After high school, Martin played both football and baseball at Monmouth before starting his coaching career.
The former quarterback started as an assistant at Toms River East before moving to Monsignor Donovan (now Donovan Catholic), then going to Toms River South to be a coordinator when his uncle was hired as a head coach before the 2011 season.
Mentored by Uncle Ron
Signorino Jr. has constantly trusted his nephew’s coaching acumen. In the nearly two decades Martin has been a coach, he has served under his uncle in every season except one, a year that Signorino Jr. took a break from football while the two were at Toms River East.
“A lot of times your quarterbacks have that ability, they’re kind of in charge of half the team and him being very smart, you could see he had that ability to not only understand how they worked, but then he was kind of help out his teammates,” Signorino Jr. said.
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Martin was the offensive coordinator during the early portion of Signorino Jr.’s tenure as head coach, leading some juggernaut offenses with Tymere Berry at quarterback in the early 2010s. But in 2017, Martin made the switch to the other side of the ball, serving as the defensive coordinator over the past five seasons.
“There’s not a lot of coaches who can be a coordinator on either side of the ball. A lot of guys are locked into their position,” Signorino Jr. said. “But he has that ability and he’s had that growth of being able to run half the team during those years.”
The experience is unique in the field and possibly gives Martin an innate advantage most first time head coaches aren’t lucky enough to have.
“Being on both sides allows you to grasp how you’re going to attack certain situations,” Martin said. “Whether it be a two-minute situation, an end of half situation, are you going to kick field goals, are you going to try and score touchdowns? I think that picture becomes much clearer when you’ve been on both sides of the ball.”
A 'cerebral' coach
While Martin may be well-versed in football strategy, like many quarterbacks, he’s a natural leader.
“The guy is probably one of the most cerebral coaches I’ve been around in my career,” Toms River South defensive coordinator Vinny Arminio said.
Arminio has been coaching for nine years and is entering his second season at South after making the move from crosstown rival Toms River East. After serving as the defensive backs coach last season, he’s elevating into Martin’s old position.
“The program here itself, it’s full of tradition, it’s unlike any school I’ve ever been at,” said Arminio, who was a defensive coordinator at Toms River East in the past. “I think having Coach Martin at the helm, like I said, he’s been eager to get this job. He’s excited and he’s going to bring all that energy to the kids. And for years to come this staff is going to be together and I think it’s going to be a great building block for future success.”
Despite being the third generation of head coach in the Signorino family tree, Martin is hungry to put his own stamp on the history of Toms River South football.
“I know that it’s there, but to be honest … every coach that takes over a program always aspires to have a successful program both on and off the field,” Martin said. “So yes, the legacy is there, and I hope when the book is written, they will be able to say I continued that legacy and I had the success that they had.”
Team capsule
NJSIAA Group Classification: South 4
Head coach: Matt Martin, first year
Assistant Coaches: Bill Rankin (quarterbacks/offensive coordinator); Vinny Arminio (defensive backs/defensive coordinator); Bill McDonnell (running backs/linebackers); Joe Kelly (linebackers); Tom Malek (defensive backs); James Dempsey (defensive line); Rich Stratton (offensive line); Kyle Austin (offensive line); Darrius Hart (wide receivers); Dan Crashewsky (athletic trainer).
Base Offense: Spread
Base Defense: 3-3
Returning Starters Offense: 6
Returning Starters Defense: 5
2021 Record: 3-7, lost in first round South 4 playoffs at Millville.
Top Returners: Devon Bond (Sr., RB/DB); Mikey Erli (Sr., RB/LB); James King (Sr., OL/DL); Dylan Lee (Sr., WR/DB); Joel Small (Sr., RB/LB); Dave Lazzaro (Sr., OL/LB/DL); Niko Crudup (Sr., LB/DL); James Alexander (Jr., QB/DB); Dennis Forbes (Jr., TE/LB) Laolu Akinlolu (So., RB/LB); Donovan Wilkinson (So., OL/DL).
Top Newcomers: Karol Castillo (Sr., RB/DB); Dante Flannagan (Sr., DL/TE); Angel Soto (Sr., OL/DL); Brandon Cope (Jr., TE/LB); Justin Coston (Jr., WR/DB); Cooper Greitz (Jr., WR/DB); Nick Iannone (Jr., RB/LB); Jarrod Johnson (Jr., TE/DL); Jordan Jones (Jr., WR/DB); Mason Pyle (Jr., WR/DB); Joe Rivera (Jr., RB/DB); Ethan Whittaker (Jr., OL/DL); Phil Bentivenga (So., LB); Jake Henehan (So, WR/DB); Brandon Hummel (So., OL/DL); Nick Mueller (So., OL/DL); Gio Torres (So., QB/DB); Damir Nelson (So., WR/DB); Danny Pierson (So., WR/DB); Joe Pompilio (So., WR/DB); Gunnar Schwartz (So., OL/DL); Joel Soto (So., OL/DL).
Schedule
Sept. 2: Toms River East, 6 p.m.
Sept. 9: at Brick Township, 7 p.m.
Sept. 16: at Red Bank Regional, 7 p.m.
Sept. 23: Ocean Township, 6 p.m.
Sept. 30: Toms River North, 6 p.m.
Oct. 7: at Brick Memorial, 6 p.m.
Oct. 14: at Raritan, 7 p.m.
Oct. 21: Neptune, 6 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Toms River South NJ football coach Matt Martin has family legacy
