Softball: Scotch Plains-Fanwood parts ways with head coach after one game
Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School fired head softball coach Rich Vaccaro Tuesday morning, just one game into his tenure as the Raiders skipper, athletics director Ryan Miller confirmed.
Vaccaro was hired at SPF in November, replacing Brian Figueredo, who departed after one season to take over the program at Watchung Hills, which is coming off a state title. Figueredo spent one season at SPF after six years at Chatham.
Miller said he was unable to discuss details of the decision but said the two assistant coaches would be guiding the program, at least temporarily.
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Vaccaro is a longtime private pitching instructor, who coached in college the past four years, including as the head coach at the County College of Morris last spring. He spent the 2010 and 2011 seasons at the helm at South Hunterdon High School, and guided Ridge High School for one year in 2016.
"It was a difficult transition being back coaching in high school after being in the college ranks the past four years," Vaccaro said. "Since only about 8% of high school softball players play in college at all levels, the college players represent the most determined, self-reliant and skillful softball players and they are independent of parental influences."
Vaccaro cited team captain and pitcher selection in the reasons for his ouster.
"I loved the girls on the team with their energy and camaraderie and will miss them all dearly," he said.
Scotch Plains-Fanwood opened its softball season Monday, falling to Union County power Cranford 9-1 on the road.
Staff writer Simeon Pincus has been covering NJ sports since 1997, and has been on the softball beat since 1999. He can be reached at CourierSoftball@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter @SimeonPincus
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ softball: Scotch Plains-Fanwood parts ways with coach
