Teaneck football bringing back 'inspired and determined' coach to lead program
Harold Clark is ready for the sequel.
Saying he’s "inspired and determined," Clark has accepted the head football coach position at Teaneck High School. Clark was the Highwaymen’s coach from 2015-18, winning 12 games in four seasons. He worked as a police officer in town for decades.
“I love the kids,” Clark said. “[Hackensack] Coach [Joe] DiFalco took me under his wings in 1979 and I always remember him telling me that you have to care for people and the way I care is by working with and mentoring kids. Now that I am retired, I have more time to help.”
Clark, 58 will temporarily serve as a volunteer before officially assuming the head coaching role on Aug. 1. He said he learned a lot from his first stint and will apply those lessons this time around.
“I tried to control too much,” Clark said. “It’s a different kind of kid now, and I think my biggest thing is entrusting my assistants to do their jobs.”
After finishing 2-8 under Sam Griffin in 2021, the Highwaymen are now in the Ivy Division of the Super Football Conference. This means they are ineligible for the state playoffs, but do have the opportunity to play for a conference title.
Clark said the Highwaymen’s traditional Thanksgiving game against rival Hackensack will continue.
“I think this league will give us a chance to win some games and attract more kids,” Clark said. “I really think so and when we play Hackensack, it will be a hell of a game.”
The Highwaymen return quarterback Aaryn Lugo and Clark said the line across the front will average around 260 pounds.
SPORTS AWARDS: Everything you need to know about the 2022 Sports Awards show
Clark said that unlike any of his first four years, numbers shouldn’t be an issue. He said he has around 70 kids signed up, which he feels this will allow his players to be able to settle in to specific roles and positions and not have to worry about going both ways.
“I think in a lot of games, we just got worn down,” Clark said. “My biggest thing now is finding a kid who can play outside linebacker, for example, and now we can tell him that’s all he has to do. He can be 100 percent focused on that and maybe that’s where he fits in in college.”
Clark had success sending kids from his program to college. Former wide receiver Nadine Tucker went from Teaneck to junior college and is now at Houston. Christopher Pearson went to the Naval Academy, played there, and just graduated.
To Clark, those are bigger success stories than any championship. Teaneck has not had a winning season since 2006.
“Don’t get me wrong, I want to win everything too,” Clark said. “But I want these kids to get to the goal line in eight years. I don’t need to win the fight if I know we are going to win the war. We want them to win some championships of life.”
Darren Cooper is a peachy-keen high school sports columnist for NorthJersey.com. For full access to live scores, breaking news and analysis from our Varsity Aces team, subscribe today. To get breaking news directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter and download our app.
Email: cooperd@northjersey.com
Twitter: @varsityaces
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Teaneck NJ football bringing back Harold Clark as coach
