Delbarton picks Tony Negrin as new AD, elevating coach at a 'transformative' time

Tony Negrin is used to being busy. The responsibilities he took on when he joined Delbarton School a decade ago would fill many people's resumes.

Negrin will add a new title − director of athletics − to that already long list on July 1. He will be the fifth AD in the 84-year history of the all-boys Benedictine school in Morris Township.

"It was a dream come true for me to be given an opportunity like that," Negrin, 32, said in an interview.

"A very important one, a very prestigious one, to lead our young men in all aspects of athletics and life at one of the best private institutions for boys in the country. I take a lot of pride, already, in that. Without hesitation, I accepted the job offer."

Negrin will continue to teach one section of freshman English at Delbarton, which has about 650 students in grades 7 to 12. He will also continue to be an assistant to varsity baseball coach Bruce Shatel.

But other obligations will have to be handed off. Negrin will no longer coach middle-school basketball, help the Council of Seniors run student government or serve as co-director of Delbarton's Community Belonging and Diversity office. After all, he needs to make sure he still has time for his wife, Olga, a guidance counselor at Villa Walsh Academy in Morristown, and the couple's two sons, 3-year-old Leo and toddler Jesse.

"Starting at Delbarton as a young guy, I wanted to give my heart and soul to the place," Negrin said. "There's no rest. There's always something that should be done to make our community better and more effective and give our boys the best opportunities possible for their future lives. I challenged myself that first year to do something every day to make the lives of our boys better."

Negrin grew up mostly in New Rochelle, New York. His father, also named Tony Negrin, was born in Havana, Cuba, and emigrated to Yonkers after Fidel Castro came to power. His mother grew up in Westchester County and is a teacher at Mount St. Michael Academy in the Bronx.

Negrin played baseball and basketball at Regis, an all-boys Jesuit high school on Manhattan's Upper East Side. He went on to play in the outfield at LaSalle University while earning a bachelor's degree in English. He also got a master's degree in secondary education from Pace University and a doctorate in education from Drexel.

Negrin's dissertation focused on how private high schools could attract student-athletes and their families, including the impact of facilities, social media, diversity of coaching staffs and branding.

Champs: Delbarton wrestling crowns four champions, scores most team points at NJ state tournament

More: ESPN invites Morris Catholic, Roselle Catholic to national basketball tournament

Negrin cites both Shatel and current athletic director Dan Whalen as mentors and inspirations.

"The job has changed from when I first started at Delbarton," Shatel said. "There's so much to get ahead of, with the way you market your brand and social media. Things are constantly changing. As a result, that position is changing constantly."Of Negrin, he said, "He's a student of pretty much everything in his life, whether it's teaching English, working with young men, developing relationships. He's a special individual."

Whalen will become an assistant AD in charge of facilities. Brian Bowers and Dan DesPlaines will continue as assistant ADs.

Delbarton is planning to open a 32,000 square foot fieldhouse this spring.

"This is an exciting time for Delbarton athletics," said the school's headmaster, Father Michael Tidd, in a news release. "With a new athletic facility opening this spring, combined with a high-caliber coaching staff and roster of talented student-athlete leaders, Tony takes over during a particularly transformative period."

Correction: A previous version of this story included an incorrect title for Delbarton's headmaster, Father Michael Tidd.

Jane Havsy is a storyteller for the Daily Record and DailyRecord.com, part of the USA TODAY Network. For full access to live scores, breaking news and analysis, subscribe today.

Want to share your story with me? 

Email: JHavsy@gannett.com

Twitter: @dailyrecordspts

This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Delbarton new athletic director: NJ parochial school selects Tony Negin