Manasquan Coach Andrew Bilodeau Hospitalized Following Win Over Wall

WALL TWP. — Manasquan High School head boys basketball coach Andrew Bilodeau collapsed on the court Tuesday night immediately following his team’s 42-37 win over Wall High School in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II semifinals and was taken by ambulance to Jersey Shore Medical Center for observation.

Bilodeau was conscious and responsive during the entire episode, which occurred along the Manasquan bench right after the final buzzer sounded. On-site medical staff applied monitors for pulse and blood pressure and supplied oxygen to Bilodeau until the ambulance and EMT crew arrived.

According to his son, Sean Bilodeau, and Manasquan assistant coach Ryan Ritchey — the latter of whom heard via a second-hand account — Bilodeau was up and walking at the hospital. Sean Bilodeau is a sophomore guard on the Manasquan varsity team.

Andrew Bilodeau did not show signs of discomfort during the majority of the game, according to Ritchey, but indicated he was not feeling right in the final seconds of the game. According to Ritchey, he asked to sit down and for someone to provide him water and when he attempted to stand for the post-game handshake line, he fell to the ground.

“He told me to stand up so he could have my seat and he had one of us (assistant coaches) get him water,” Ritchey said. “It was an intense game, so I figured he just needed a minute. We went to go shake hands after the game and I guess he went to stand up and he just went right back down.”

Five years ago, Bilodeau missed the final three games of Manasquan’s 2021 season due to a heart condition that required him, by doctor’s recommendation, to stay away from coaching for the remainder of his team’s season. Ritchey handled the head-coaching duties during those games, when Manasquan won the Shore Conference Playoffs to complete a 12-0 season.

Since then, Bilodeau has not missed time for health reasons. No determination has been made whether he will coach on Friday, when Manasquan plays Rumson-Fair Haven in the Central Group II championship game at Manasquan High School.

Bilodeau is in his 18th year as Manasquan’s head coach and 23rd as a high school varsity coach after beginning his career at Manchester, followed by Toms River North. He has amassed a record of 481-149 in those 23 seasons, which includes eight NJSIAA sectional championships, two Group II state championships and two official Shore Conference Tournament titles to go with the 2021 championship during the COVID-shortened season.

“He is amazing,” Ritchey said. “He never misses a practice. He is one hundred percent all-in, all the time. He cares a lot and everyone in the programs sees that. It’s why we have done what we have done here.”

Update, March 4: Bilodeau is recovering at Jersey Shore Medical Center after suffering a heart attack Tuesday night, he said via text, and will spend at least one more night in the hospital.