James Mahoney Hired as New Brick Memorial Football Coach
James Mahoney is following in the footsteps of a friend and mentor as he takes over the Brick Memorial football program.
Mahoney, who has served as the team’s offensive coordinator, was approved by the Brick Board of Education on Thursday night as the new Mustangs head coach. He succeeds Walt Currie, the all-time program leader in wins with 116. Currie stepped down after 19 years at the helm in December.
“I’m just incredibly grateful, super humbled and understand it’s a great responsibility,” Mahoney said. “I’m also really thankful and grateful for Walt and everything he’s done for me as a mentor, taking me under his wing and showing me what it takes to be a head coach for the past six years. Walt is one of the best to ever do it. It’s really big shoes to fill.”
In his final season, Currie led Brick Memorial to the Central Jersey Group 4 title, its first state sectional championship since 2008. The Mustangs also nearly shocked eventual overall Group 4 champion Winslow Township in a 14-12 loss in the Group semifinals.
Mahoney was the offensive coordinator for one of the Shore Conference’s top offenses. The Mustangs averaged 33 points per game in finishing 10-3 and putting themselves at the front of the conversation as the best team in school history.
New Brick Memorial football coach James Mahoney inherits a Mustangs team coming off a 10-win season and a sectional title.
He plans on keeping the Mustangs’ veteran staff intact to ensure continuity for one of the Shore’s perennial contenders.
“All our staff is back, so we’re all going in the same direction,” Mahoney said. “We have some Hall of Fame players who are graduating, but we’ll be filling in with guys ready to make that next step.”
Mahoney, who played for Hall of Fame coach Mark Costantino at Shore Regional, has worked at Brick Memorial for 14 years. He previously coached at Spotswood for six years under another former Shore Regional coach, Andy Cammarano, before joining the staff at Brick Memorial.
He inherits a Brick Memorial squad that graduates several of the greatest players in program history. Quarterback and Shore Sports Insider Offensive Player of the Year Jason Lajara, two-time, SSI first-team All-Shore wide receiver Nyzier Matthews, SSI Defensive Player of the Year Trey Tallmadge and first-team All-Shore running back Na’Zeer Whittaker all graduate in June as part of a history-making senior class. Lajara is the program’s all-time leading passer, Matthews holds all the major receiving records, and Tallmadge is the program’s all-time leading tackler.
The Mustangs do return second-team All-Shore WR/DB Shawn Fowler, first-team All-Shore offensive lineman Jaxon Ellis, second-team All-Shore tight end Joe Livio and second-team All-Shore defensive lineman Jaxon Pacheco, so the cupboard is far from bare.
“We’ve got guys who have been waiting their turn behind this incredible senior class, and it’s been exciting to see the development of the guys who have been chomping at the bit to get their shot,” Mahoney said.
Mahoney’s hire leaves Raritan as the only open head coaching spot in the Shore Conference after veteran head coach Anthony Petruzzi stepped down last week after 16 seasons.
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
