St. Augustine Prep football coach Mark Reardon resigns surprisingly

In a stunning development, Mark Reardon resigned Monday as head football coach at St. Augustine Prep.

A former Villanova University assistant coach, Reardon turned St. Augustine into one of the top programs in South Jersey in his five seasons in Richland.

His teams were a combined 42-9 and dominated South Jersey competition in recent seasons. The Hermits own a 25-game winning streak against area teams.

St. Augustine was 9-1 and No. 1 in the Inquirer's final Top 25 in 2015 and 9-1 and No. 2 in the final Top 25 in 2016. In both seasons, each of the team's losses was to a North Jersey superpower program in the Non-Public 4 state tournament.

In a text message, Reardon said, "I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to spent five tremendous years at St. Augustine. I wish the school community the best. Hopefully, we left it a little better than we found it. On to the next challenge life has to offer."

Reardon's departure follows swiftly on the exodus of two of his assistant coaches, Chalie Roman and Tiger Minetti, both of whom left St. Augustine in recent weeks to return to Holy Spirit.

Roman, a former head coach at Holy Spirit, was Reardon's right-hand man at St. Augustine and played a major role in the success of the program over the last five seasons.

The upheaval at St. Augustine Prep could change the landscape of South Jersey football, especially with regard to the balance of power among non-public programs that often compete to attract many of the same student-athletes.

In a statement, St. Augustine said, "Coach Reardon guided the Hermits for five incredible seasons; we are grateful for his leadership, work ethic and dedication in raising the standard of our football program and helping transform the lives of countless student-athletes at St. Augustine."

The school also said "an extensive search to identify the next coach of the St. Augustine Prep football program will begin immediately."