2 hoops coaches leave their programs

Two veteran South Jersey basketball coaches will not return to their teams next year. Holy Spirit girls' basketball coach Larry DiGiovanni has retired, and Riverside boys' basketball coach Paul Collins has resigned.

In 10 seasons at Holy Spirit, DiGiovanni compiled a 218-56 record, 10 division titles and eight Cape Atlantic National Conference titles. He spent a total of 38 years in coaching, including stints as a head boys' basketball coach at Holy Spirit, St. Joseph Hammonton and Egg Harbor Township.

"It was the right time," DiGiovanni said.

Collins spent the last six years as Riverside's head coach. Before that, he was the longtime boys' basketball head coach at Willingboro.

"I was satisfied where the program went at Riverside but felt it was time to move on," said Collins, who is also an assistant football coach at Holy Cross. - Marc Narducci