Matt Abbato Hired as Southern Football Coach to Follow Hall of Famer Chuck Donohue Sr.

Matt Abbato has spent 22 years as the heir apparent to legendary Southern football coach Chuck Donohue Sr. 

His moment has arrived. 

The longtime defensive coordinator was approved by the Southern Regional Board of Education as the new Rams head coach this week, only five days after Donohue Sr. announced he was retiring following 28 seasons at Southern and 52 years as a head coach. 

“It’s surreal,” Abbato said. “I was 16 when I met Coach Donohue, and Southern football was in such a different spot then. To live through all the stages that he has brought the program and create the foundation that Southern football has become, to be able to follow in his footsteps is a really special thing.” 

Abbato, 44, a 2000 Southern graduate who played fullback and linebacker for Donohue Sr., takes over for a coach whose 290 career wins rank third in Shore Conference history. Donohue Sr. essentially put Southern football on the map with 14 state playoff appearances, four division titles and two trips to sectional finals between 1998 and 2025. Before Donohue Sr. came to Southern, the Rams had only won one division title in 1972 and never reached a state sectional final. 

Donohue Sr. was also preparing Abbato all along to take his spot once he decided to retire. 

“I think as I went through my tenure as a coordinator, year by year, Coach (Donohue) has granted me more responsibility as he had more trust in me,” Abbato said. “I was developing my own gameplans and running defensive practice all the time. I also got experience with more head coach stuff like dealing with physicals and parent meetings. Coach has done a nice job of bringing me along the way. He has helped me tremendously.” 

Abbato started his coaching career as a volunteer assistant at Southern under Donohue while he was attending Stockton University. Abbato was unable to play football in college due to a neck issue, so Donohue brought him aboard before he even graduated because he knew Abbato was interested in coaching.

Donohue then made Abbato his defensive coordinator when Abbato was only 22 years old. 

“My only coaching experience prior to that was as a volunteer,” Abbato said. 

Southern’s defense became known for its physical, grinding play under Abbato. Last season, the Rams’ defense allowed a Shore Conference-low 8.4 points per game and were the only team in the Shore to allow less than 100 total points for the season. They finished 9-2 with a Class B South title and a state playoff win after starting 7-0 for the first time in program history. 

Abbato inherits a Rams team returning a host of talent, including Abbato’s son, rising senior quarterback Carson Abbato. He was named the Class B South Offensive Player of the Year by the division’s coaches and third-team All-Shore by Shore Sports Insider as a junior. 

“I always hoped I would have the chance to be the head coach while my son was still in high school, so to have that chance is special on many levels,” Abbato said. 

The Rams’ leading receiver Chris Raub, a rising senior and second-team All-Shore selection, will also be back along with rising junior kicker Cole Celeste, another offensive weapon who was a second-team All-Shore pick. 

The defense brings back Defensive Player of the Year candidate Niko Iliescu, who was an SSI first-team All-Shore selection at linebacker as a sophomore. His twin brother, Lukas Iliescu, also returns following a standout season himself as a tight end/linebacker that earned him SSI third-team All-Shore honors. 

Abbato said he will continue to call the defense, while assistant Eric Sharkey will be the new offensive coordinator. Abbato’s younger brother, Dan Abbato, another former Southern standout, will move up from the middle school coaching ranks to join Matt’s staff. The rest of the staff will remain mostly intact, and Abbato is hoping Donohue Sr. will also remain part of it in some capacity. 

His hiring means there are no more open vacancies among Shore Conference football coaches during this offseason. 

Scott Stump is the football editor and a reporter for Shore Sports Insider. He first started covering Shore Conference football in 1999 and has covered basketball, baseball and seemingly every other Shore Conference sport at some point. 

Email: scottstump25@gmail.com