Garden State Basketball Report is proud to launch its newest off-season feature, the Coaching Corner. Throughout the off-season we will feature coaches making an impact on and off the floor on young student athletes in the Garden State.
Our first feature is with Central Regional Head Coach Mike Clemente, who led the Bayville school to a 22-5 record this past winter, claiming the Shore Conference B-South divisional title along the way.
Mike Clemente, The Facts:
Career Record: 127-91
Schools Coached:
2008 - 2010: Moravian College (Top Assistant / Spearheaded Recruiting)
2011 - 2015: Toms River North (Varsity Assistant)
2016 - Present: Central Regional (Head Coach)
Division Titles: 2021, 2023 & 2024
1.) What inspired you to get involved with coaching high school basketball?
Basketball has always been a passion of mine since I can remember. I think the main reason for that was the fact that my father was a High School basketball head coach for 35 years.
Some of my first (and favorite) memories as a kid were being in a gym and running around with the older players. I chose to come back to the High School level after coaching in College for a couple of years for the simple reason of being able to have an impact on young kids' lives & to help mold them to reach their full potential.
High School gives you a unique opportunity to have a daily positive influence on kids.
2.) What are the most rewarding and challenging aspects of being a high school basketball coach in 2024?
The rewarding part and the part I enjoy the most is on senior graduation day, looking back to see how much they have grown up and matured throughout their time at Central Regional.
There are so many challenges that teenage student athletes face these days and to see these kids that we care about so much graduate with a smile on their faces is priceless.
There are far too many challenging aspects to being a high school coach to name, but the hardest one, I think, now, would be the access to social media and how easily kids can be negatively influenced to make the wrong choices or think things come easily without having to work hard for what they truly want.
3.) What are a few of your favorite moments of your coaching career?
I'll start with in 2016 when we broke the long standing season win record as we finished 22-6 that season (we actually tied that record this year going 22-5).
We host an annual Jimmy V Showcase every January and one game that will always be remembered was when we beat top ranked Pt. Beach at the buzzer in a game no one thought we stood a chance in.
Speaking of our Jimmy V Showcase, In the 8 years of running the showcase we have raised over $135,000 for a cause that is very close to my heart - cancer research.
This is something the entire Central Regional community is very proud of.
4.) Who were some of your key influences early in your coaching career that helped you develop, not only as an “X’s and O’s” strategist, but as a communicator and role model to young men?
Without question the first person is my father. Being able to see first hand the time and effort that goes into being a head coach was worth more than gold to me. It fully prepared me for the ups, downs and surprises that come with the job. And second would be my College coach Jim Walker(Moravian College). He always taught me that basketball was a tool we can use to appreciate and teach how to be a good person and help others.
5.) You’re assigned to construct NJ Basketball’s Mount Rushmore. Which Coaches are on it and why?
This is a tough question as NJ is one of the premier states in our country for basketball!
I would go with the obvious first- Bob Hurley Sr… Then Joe Mantegna, Kevin Boyle and I’ll throw in the late Clarence Turner from Camden.
6.) Will your team be participating in any summer leagues? If so, where?
We always try and have a very active summer. We are under a month away from being allowed to be back on the court with the Team and we can’t wait. Besides practices and individual workouts, this summer we will be competing in both Philly Live sessions 1 & 2, NJ Live, Stockton University’s Team Camp, and Barnegat High School’s Team Camp.
7.) What advice would you give to young men and women who are interested in becoming high school coaches?
Always remember that you are a teacher first - a teacher of not only the game of basketball or whatever sport you are coaching, but more importantly in the game of life.
Being a High School coach allows you to instill life lessons and build characteristics in kids that will be their cornerstones for whatever path they choose for themselves after graduating.
