The Return of the King: 2024 Ocean Township Football Preview
Head coach Chad King has returned to his alma mater to help Ocean put a losing season in the rearview mirror and get back to its customary spot as a playoff contender.
King, who starred for the Spartans in the late 1990s, left Long Branch to take the job at Ocean after successful Ocean coach Don Klein returned to his own scholastic alma mater to take the position at Shore Regional. King led the Green Wave to a pair of playoff berths in his two seasons at the helm, including a darkhorse run to a sectional final last year in which they handed Brick Memorial its only loss of the season.
“You don’t realize you’re back home until you’re back home and see the support from so many of those who remember when you were there,” King said. “The energy has been great from everyone.”
There also is a connection between King’s two jobs as he succeeded Hall of Famer Dan George at Long Branch after playing for George during his time at Ocean in the ‘90s. King inherits a Spartans team that finished 4-6 last year after suffering heavy graduation losses.
He has installed the run-heavy flexbone offense after bringing over Greg Penta, his offensive coordinator at Long Branch. Ocean started as a spread team last year then switched to the Wing-T in the middle of the season as it struggled to find an offensive rhythm. The Spartans only averaged 11.1 points per game, fourth-worst in the Shore.
They will take advantage of their multiple running threats, including senior James Sobieski, a returning starter at quarterback who switched to the position from wideout last year. Senior Boomer Volek will be the fullback, and sophomore Alex Staten and junior Hayden Ansell will be the slotbacks. Juniors De’Antae Richardson, Josh Calixte and Mickey McGovern should also see some carries.
Staten showed promise as a freshman on varsity last season and should add some explosiveness to the attack, and Sobieski is also a strong running threat.
Ocean and senior James Sobieski are looking to bounce back from a 4-6 season under new head coach and former Spartans star Chad King. (Bob Badders | rpbphotography.com)
The junior trio of Jake Varley, Mike Martin and Kwaku Prempeh as well as sophomore Jordan Gaudious make up an all-new receiving corps.
Senior left guard Ray Sexton returns to anchor the offensive line, with senior Ahmed Elmenoufi at left tackle, junior Nick Alessi at right tackle and senior Danny Farina at right guard. Junior Matt McGlennon and senior Matt Richter are competing for the center spot.
“I just look for us to be tough,” King said about the offense. “We understand that three yards is good, four yards is great, and we’ll be OK with that.”
Freshman kicker Joey Bercovicz steps in as the new kicker.
The Spartans will be running a 4-2-5 scheme on defense under King, who produced hard-nosed units on that side of the ball during his time at Long Branch. He was previously the Green Wave’s defensive coordinator before he was the head coach.
Calixte and Farina will be the defensive ends, with Sexton and senior Abi Andre as the defensive tackles. Ansell, McGovern and sophomore brothers Dominic and Jake Volek will be in the linebacker rotation and also will play the hybrid linebacker/safety spot in the scheme.
Sobieski and senior Eric Brandimarte are the corners, with senior Malcolm Beale (68 tackles last season) and Boomer Volek as the safeties. Junior Dormeus will handle the punting.
The Spartans are part of the realigned Class B North, which also includes Freehold, Freehold Township, Matawan, Middletown North and Red Bank. Matawan has the most talent back on paper and Freehold Township returns the Shore’s leading passer, so Ocean will be looking to show it belongs among the contenders.
At a Glance
Head coach: Chad King, first season at Ocean, 3rd overall
Career record: 14-9
2023 record: 7-5
Offense: Flexbone
Defense: 4-2-5
Coaching Staff
Offensive coordinator: Greg Penta
Defensive coordinator: Jim Simonelli
Offensive line: Andy Carlstrom
WR: Joey Aldarelli
QB: Dave Fleming
Offensive asst.: Christian Bailoni
DE: Val Barnaby
DT: Ryan Burgess
DB/special teams: Hank Limardo
Athletic trainer: Katelyn Zimmerman
Circle the Date: Aug. 29 at Red Bank
Both of these teams want to start the season off on the right foot after a losing season, so this is an early separation game and big confidence booster for the winner. It’s also an old-school rivalry hearkening to the throwback days of Class B North.
Rookie watch: Alex Staten, So., RB
Staten saw time in the backfield as a freshman but is expected to be a much bigger factor this season. Ocean will look to get him on the edge with his speed as a slotback in the new flexbone offense.
Stat to Know
Ocean’s last state sectional title came in 2005, when the starting quarterback was current WFAN Radio host Keith McPherson.
SCHEDULE
| Date | Team | Time |
| Thursday 8/29 | @Red Bank | 6:30 p.m. |
| Friday 9/6 | Holmdel | 7 p.m. |
| Friday 9/13 | Freehold Township | 7 p.m. |
| Friday 9/20 | @Middletown North | 7 p.m. |
| Saturday 10/5 | @Manasquan | 1 p.m. |
| Thursday 10/10 | @Matawan | 6 p.m. |
| Friday 10/18 | Shore | 7 p.m. |
| Friday 10/25 | Freehold | 7 p.m. |
