Wall seeking new head football coach in wake of hazing investigation

Steven Falk, Asbury Park Press
·2 min read

The Wall Township school district has opened a job search for a varsity head football coach in the wake of the alleged abuse scandal that has rocked the football program.

The district has posted a help wanted ad on njschoolsjob.com seeking "an experienced Head Varsity Football Coach to build upon a history of success.''

The position has been held by Anthony Grandinetti, who along with Athletic Director Thomas Ridoux, were placed on leave by the township Board of Education last month.

Grandinetti, who's been the football coach since 2017, did not reply to a request for comment.

Juvenile complaints alleging hazing, attempted criminal sexual contact, criminal sexual contact, false imprisonment and harassment have been filed “against a number of” Wall Township High School students, acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey said Jan. 10. She did not provide an exact number nor their identities because of their status as minors.

Wall High School
Wall High School

Two assistant football coaches have also been placed on leave by the school board.

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Wall's final two games of the 2021 season - against Delsea in the state playoffs and the annual Thanksgiving Day game against Manasquan- were canceled after word of the allegations broke.

NO RIVALRY GAME: Wall football Thanksgiving game canceled amid hazing investigation

The Crimson Knights went 36-13 under Grandinetti. The team had a 12-1 record and won the New Jersey South Group 3 championship in 2019. Wall was 7-0 and the Shore Conference champion in 2020.

The job posting is another indication school district officials are making plans to field a team in the coming fall football season, despite rumors to the contrary that had circulated in the community.

Wall is a member of the Shore Conference sports league. Conference officials included Wall when the game schedule for the fall was released Friday. Wall is slated to play its first game the weekend of Sept. 9 against Red Bank Catholic.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Wall NJ football hazing investigation: New head coach sought