January 15, 2020
Greetings, DePaul Catholic Community!
I’m delighted to advise you of some recent developments here at DePaul in our Athletic Department.
Joe Lennon, our Athletic Director, has managed our sports program, both for girls and boys, for almost forty years. Having joined our staff in 1982, Joe has presided over countless championship seasons, as A.D. and as head coach of our football and baseball teams. More importantly, he has imbued that sports program with his sense of integrity and fair play, teaching a generation of young Spartans by his example. DePaul has been very lucky to have had him at the helm.
Joe has decided that the time has come to pass the Director’s torch. Fortunately, our school will continue to benefit from his wisdom and experience; at the conclusion of this school year, Joe will assume a position in our Advancement Office, helping us to generate the support we need to continue our mission. I have no doubt that he will be as successful there as he was on the field.
To take over for Joe, I have appointed John McKenna as our next Athletic Director, effective on July 1, 2020. “Mac” joined us in 1997 as a teacher in our Physical Education and Health Department and as a coach in several sports, most prominently as one of Joe Lennon’s football assistants. John took over from Joe as head football coach in 2005. His record has been remarkable: several “Coach of the Year” citations, induction into the New Jersey State Hall of Fame, and five state championships in one of Jersey’s most competitive divisions, among other achievements. But most critically, he is kid-centric, caring much more about his players as people than he does about posting W’s. He’s done a great job building on the legacy that Joe Lennon handed him.
John has agreed to coach one more season, and so he’ll stay on the sidelines as our head football coach for this year. When the 2020 season is over, he’ll relinquish his coaching responsibilities and devote himself full time to his AD duties.
John’s plan means that we’ll need a new head football coach for the 2021 season. We didn’t have far to look to find his successor. Nick Campanile joined us in 2016, as a teacher and as the offensive coordinator on John’s staff. Since then, he’s done a terrific job. Both Joe and John have recommended Nick as our next head football coach, and so I am pleased to appoint him to that position. Nick will continue to act as our OC for this year, and will take over the head coaching post upon the conclusion of the 2020 season. Nick is excited by this opportunity, and is looking forward to helping John have a great season this fall before taking the program over. We’re fortunate indeed to have him lined up.
All of this means that the Athletic Department, and the football program in particular, will continue to be in very good hands. Our school has been blessed for many years with the services of these three talented and dedicated men. Now we can enjoy those blessings for years to come.
St. Vincent DePaul, pray for us !
Best to all,
Bob Stickles
Dr. Robert Stickles, Ed.D.,J.D.
President
Greetings, DePaul Catholic Community!
I’m delighted to advise you of some recent developments here at DePaul in our Athletic Department.
Joe Lennon, our Athletic Director, has managed our sports program, both for girls and boys, for almost forty years. Having joined our staff in 1982, Joe has presided over countless championship seasons, as A.D. and as head coach of our football and baseball teams. More importantly, he has imbued that sports program with his sense of integrity and fair play, teaching a generation of young Spartans by his example. DePaul has been very lucky to have had him at the helm.
Joe has decided that the time has come to pass the Director’s torch. Fortunately, our school will continue to benefit from his wisdom and experience; at the conclusion of this school year, Joe will assume a position in our Advancement Office, helping us to generate the support we need to continue our mission. I have no doubt that he will be as successful there as he was on the field.
To take over for Joe, I have appointed John McKenna as our next Athletic Director, effective on July 1, 2020. “Mac” joined us in 1997 as a teacher in our Physical Education and Health Department and as a coach in several sports, most prominently as one of Joe Lennon’s football assistants. John took over from Joe as head football coach in 2005. His record has been remarkable: several “Coach of the Year” citations, induction into the New Jersey State Hall of Fame, and five state championships in one of Jersey’s most competitive divisions, among other achievements. But most critically, he is kid-centric, caring much more about his players as people than he does about posting W’s. He’s done a great job building on the legacy that Joe Lennon handed him.
John has agreed to coach one more season, and so he’ll stay on the sidelines as our head football coach for this year. When the 2020 season is over, he’ll relinquish his coaching responsibilities and devote himself full time to his AD duties.
John’s plan means that we’ll need a new head football coach for the 2021 season. We didn’t have far to look to find his successor. Nick Campanile joined us in 2016, as a teacher and as the offensive coordinator on John’s staff. Since then, he’s done a terrific job. Both Joe and John have recommended Nick as our next head football coach, and so I am pleased to appoint him to that position. Nick will continue to act as our OC for this year, and will take over the head coaching post upon the conclusion of the 2020 season. Nick is excited by this opportunity, and is looking forward to helping John have a great season this fall before taking the program over. We’re fortunate indeed to have him lined up.
All of this means that the Athletic Department, and the football program in particular, will continue to be in very good hands. Our school has been blessed for many years with the services of these three talented and dedicated men. Now we can enjoy those blessings for years to come.
St. Vincent DePaul, pray for us !
Best to all,
Bob Stickles
Dr. Robert Stickles, Ed.D.,J.D.
President
