Sam Carchidi: Winds of change in Camden

Bouncing around the South Jersey scholastic sports trail.

For many seasons in the last three decades - particularly in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s - Camden and Woodrow Wilson have been among the elite in South Jersey boys' basketball.

So it seems a little strange that both programs are going through unsettling off-seasons and are seeking head coaches.

Wilson athletic director Marvin Hamilton confirmed yesterday that head coach Darryl Roberts had resigned. Roberts, a special-education teacher at Wilson, recently earned his master's degree and said he wants to pursue an administrative position and have time for watching his twin sons, Jared and Isaiah, play basketball at Woodbury.

"It's just time for me to go," Roberts, owner of a 29-43 record in three seasons, said yesterday.

Camden, meanwhile, appears destined to replace Clarence Turner, who was suspended in late January for apparently allowing one of his standout players, Garry Simmons, to play a handful of games even though he did not meet the school's academic guidelines.

Bart Leff, spokesman for the district, said yesterday that Turner's suspension ended April 27 but that he still has not returned to his job as a Camden physical education teacher. Leff did not know why Turner, who had a 777-144 record in 34 seasons at Camden, had not returned to school. Leff referred all questions to Turner, who did not return phone calls.

Based on conversations with Camden insiders, Turner has little chance of returning to coaching. Mike Stargell, who was named the acting coach during the middle of last season, hopes to be named the permanent coach when the job is posted.

Why hasn't the job been posted yet? Well, no one seems to know.

Al Dyer, who was recently named Camden's athletic director, said he has been told that Bessie LeFra Young, the school's superintendent, will address all questions about the coaching position.

LeFra Young, however, did not return phone calls. As a result, questions still hang in the air. Questions that, more than two months after the season has ended, should have been answered.

Camden's players deserve better.

Even though teams can begin play in the NJSIAA baseball tourney tomorrow, no South Jersey section will begin before Monday. The pairings will be released by the NJSIAA tonight at www.njsiaa.org.

Without much fanfare, Williamstown boys' track coach Mark Suk recently recorded his 100th career victory.

"He's very humble and never looks for publicity. He's all about the kids," Williamstown athletic director Roy Fennimore said.

In addition to coaching outdoor and indoor track, Suk is an assistant on Williamstown's highly successful football team.

There is a correlation between the sports, Fennimore said.

"He has the kids in the weight room all year round - for both sports," Fennimore said. "And being a football coach, he has a chance to recruit kids for track, and that's definitely helped him."

Though his Ocean City baseball team took just a 5-11 record into yesterday, junior Sean Feeney has set one school record and is approaching another. Feeney had hit home runs in five of Ocean City's last six games. His homers in three straight games is a first at the school.

In addition, senior Colin Norton had thrown out 17 runners entering yesterday, the most ever by an Ocean City catcher. Norton will attend the University of Tampa, the defending NCAA Division II baseball champions.

The Cape-Atlantic League has cornered the market on Monmouth's head basketball coaches.

Dave Calloway, former standout at St. Joseph in Hammonton, has been Monmouth's longtime men's coach. On Tuesday, the school introduced Stephanie Gaitley as its women's coach.

Gaitley was known as Stephanie Vanderslice when she played at Ocean City in the 1970s and led the Red Raiders to 100 straight Cape wins. Don't be surprised if her Monmouth teams become more active in recruiting the South Jersey area.