'He deserved it': Toms River North gym dedicated to late girls basketball coach Ray Cervino
TOMS RIVER – Over the last two decades, RWJBarnabas Health Arena – the 3,200-seat arena attached to Toms River North High School – has hosted some of the biggest events in New Jersey high school athletics. On top of colossal basketball events, the arena has also catered to some of the biggest names in entertainment.
But before the massive arena, there was the Old Gym, as it is colloquially referred to today. That was the House that Ray Cervino built.
The girls basketball coach who spent 20 seasons with the Mariners passed away in October at the age of 78, but Thursday was a night of celebration at his old home away from home.
With games still being played in the Old Gym to this day, the Mariners hosted crosstown rival Toms River South for a special night. The school district honored Cervino’s legacy by naming the gym where he made history and changed countless lives after him.
In attendance was his wife, Mary, his three children, Adam, Nicole and Vicki, and a mass of alumni who played for Cervino.
“It makes me very happy because it’s very well deserved, and it couldn’t have happened to a better guy,” Mary said. “My husband was a very warm, compassionate individual. He was the type of person that never really gave up on anybody.”
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Cervino is a legend in Toms River. In 20 seasons at the helm of the girls program, he compiled a 313-212 record and won 9 A South titles, three sectional crowns and the only state championship in program history with the Group 4 title in 2000.
That year, Cervino led the Mariners to a 29-3 record and to the Tournament of Champions final, making Toms River North the only Ocean County team to ever reach the championship game.
He was also a longtime history teacher at the school and was inducted into the Toms River Regional District Hall of Fame.
“When the arena got built, this gym got pushed to the side and everybody, myself included, referred to it as the old gym, but it was more than that,” said Kim Peto, a former player of Cervino’s. “It has a purpose, and he was a huge part of it, if not the biggest part of this gym. He deserved it, and I’m glad it happened.”
Honoring Cervino
Before the sign bearing Cervino’s name was unveiled, principal Ed Keller and athletic director Ted Gillen made a few brief remarks honoring Cervino before a packed gym.
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“Conversations with Ray made you think, made you smile and made you laugh,” Gillen said. “Some of the greatest attributes that any student athlete could hope for in a teacher and a coach.”
It was a touching moment indeed for his family.
“It’s special knowing that my father touched as many people as he touched in a way that they feel honored to do something to support him,” Adam said. “To be part of it is outstanding.”
The idea to name the gym after Cervino came to Peto shortly after his passing. She teamed up with fellow alum Sandy Bisogno and wrote a letter asking the Board of Education to make the change.
“It means a lot to us how they all came together,” Nicole said. “All his players, they’re just wonderful.”
Cervino's legacy
Cervino is remembered as a demanding and tough coach but one that truly cared about and loved his players. Vicki joked his tough love approach to coaching was the reason why she quit basketball after one season, but Nicole played under her father for four years as she became the program’s all-time leading scorer.
Nicole admitted it wasn’t easy playing for her father. The child of the coach often gets the toughest treatment, and that was no exception for Nicole but after her playing career, she was able to look back fondly on how great of a coach her father was.
“I recognize now what a wonderful coach he was but at the time when you’re playing for your father, it’s a little different because he was hard,” Nicole said. “Looking back, I was very lucky. It was great to spend all that time with him.”
Peto remembered Cervino yelling his catchphrase "geez, oh man" as she piloted the Mariners to the 2000 state championship. But as many times she remembers Cervino getting on her case, she remembers him calling her after games or pulling her out of class to check in on her just as many times.
“There were times when he made me cry in high school. He was hard on me, but I realized he was hard on me because he knew my potential,” Peto said. “Deep down inside, he loved you.”
Current Toms River North coach Vicki Gillen took over for Cervino in 2002. Despite being a Toms River East alum, Gillen was convinced to cross over to North by Cervino, and she’s been there ever since, continuing his winning legacy.
Gillen remembers Cervino writing her a letter after she scored her 1,000th high school career point even though she played for a rival. She remembers him popping in on practices from time to time because he still cared so much.
“He was one of the great ones,” Gillen said. “He was into it with all of the girls in the Shore Conference, not just North.”
A life-sized cardboard cutout of Cervino was brought and his presence was otherwise certainly felt on a night that was well deserved for a legend.
“He probably wouldn’t have wanted this or thought that he was deserving of it,” Mary said. “Ray was a very humble person and never wanted a lot of attention. He just wanted to do his job well.”
Danny LoGiudice has covered local sports across New Jersey since 2014. Contact him at dlogiudice@gannettnj.com or @danny_logiudice on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore Conference NJ girls basketball: TRN gym named after Ray Cervino
