WRESTLING: Camden Catholic hires Matt Walsh as coach
Camden Catholic found the man who will lead its wrestlers.
The school announced Wednesday via press release that Matt Walsh will be the next Irish head coach.
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“I’ve been asked a lot of times throughout the years to get back into head coaching,” Walsh, who served as the boss at Chester High School in Pennsylvania in the late 1980s, said. “At this point, I’m ready to get back into it and get the program rolling again.”
Walsh volunteered as an assistant last season and also helped train grapplers at the Wrecking Club in Marlton.
“Matt is a consummate professional who knows the sport of wrestling as well as anyone,” interim athletic director Joe Galliera said in the release. “Having sent his own children to Camden Catholic, he is well aware of our school mission and championship wrestling tradition.”
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Two of Walsh’s sons – Taylor and Chad – are atop the list of successful collegiate performers from the school on Cuthbert Boulevard in Cherry Hill.
Taylor (a 2010 grad) twice stood atop the podium in Atlantic City as state champ. Chad (2014) finished as a place-winner in four consecutive campaigns.
Both brothers have claimed NCAA All-American honors. Taylor at Indiana University where he was a national runner-up in 2015 and Chad at Rider University, where he placed fifth in the nation in last year’s sophomore season. They will work as part-time volunteer assistant coaches.
Their younger sibling Cody Walsh, now an eighth-grader, will follow his brothers’ footsteps at the school next year.
His father insists the idea of coaching his son did not play a large role in the decision to apply. A rebuild of the program where he entrusted his children meant more.
Last season, Camden Catholic did not live up to the large expectations of which it’s grown accustomed over the years.
John Denuto took the helm and brought individual success. Four of his wrestlers reached the state tournament.
However, a lack of depth hurt the group in team meets. A 57-15 loss to Christian Brothers Academy in the Non-Public Group A South semifinals – with eight forfeits – highlighted the issue.
Matt Walsh is adamant. That will not happen under his watch.
“One of my main goals is to keep the numbers up on the team,” he said. “That’s always been my focus. … I don’t like forfeits. You want kids to work hard, not lose numbers in the process. Junior varsity kid or not, they’re part of the program. Every kid is important.”
Walsh’s right-hand man on staff will be Bill Heverly, who recently coached Haddonfield from 2011-14. Heverly was s two-time state finalist for the Irish and graduated in 1999.
Dave Miller Jr. will volunteer as the team’s cross-fit and part-time assistant. Dave Miller Sr., Dave Necastro and former coach Ryan McCormick will join the Walsh boys to round out the staff.
An owner of two auto parts businesses in Philadelphia, the 52-year-old Matt Walsh believes he will add a lightweight coach in the next couple weeks.
His voice reflected no worry about the direction he’ll lead the Irish. He believes the school will sell itself to recruits, like it did to Belmar, Ocean County resident Lucas Revano.
Revano finished sixth in the state last year at 113 pounds and is expected to return for his sophomore year.
“I think the kids from a distance will want to come,” Walsh said. “You look at Lucas, his parents said at the end of the year, ‘He just really loves the school now.’
“It’s about finding kids who can really fit in with the other guys and are going to be good influences as they grow. Good, positive kids at a good program in a good school like Camden Catholic, it’s a family atmosphere. … I care about it. It’s a good school. I figured if I could get in and help, I could put the program in the right direction.”
Mark Trible; (856) 486-2424; mtrible@gannettnj.com