By BRIAN TORTELLA
Correspondent
On X @tortreports
Rewind to 2004.
Fresh out of Monmouth University, 20-year-old John Emel got his first opportunity to coach the sport he loves most in Carneys Point. Penns Grove was a familiar site for Emel, who was a 2002 graduate of the Red Devils’ cross-county rival, Salem High School.
He enjoyed eight seasons there, from 2004 to 2011, as an assistant football coach, but ventured out of his comfort zone for two seasons. His landing spot? West Deptford.
Emel got to expand his knowledge for two seasons learning from one of South Jersey’s greatest coaches to ever step on the gridiron. Head coach Clyde Folsom — now an assistant at Mainland Regional — won 227 games at West Deptford, capturing all seven of the program’s sectional titles (Two of which came in both of Emel’s assistant seasons).
“He always had high energy, was very passionate, and really, really cared about the kids,” Folsom said. “To the point where he helped them with his homework, (or) picked them up. If he had to bring something like shoes for a kid because he was in need. The kids really respected and loved him because they knew he really cared about them. I think that’s his strongest asset, his commitment to the kids.”
With more experience under his belt, Emel returned to the place that gave him his start, leading Penns Grove for 10 highly successful seasons — only this time as a head coach. He went 70-41 with two sectional titles, including an unprecedented 13-0 season in 2018 when his squad won the South/Central Regional championship, 35-28, over Willingboro at MetLife Stadium. The following year they went 12-1 and captured the South Jersey group 1 crown.
“John has been extremely helpful to the Penns Grove High School football program and Penns Grove athletics,” said Penns Grove Athletic Director Anwar Golden, who also graduated from Salem High in the same time frame as Emel. “He’s done a lot for our program. He advocates, he brings it to me and I bring it up the chain. It’s a natural progression for him in life, and I’m excited for him. I’m hoping he’ll be successful (at West Deptford). John is intelligent. He’ll get it done.”
The Red Devils only had one losing season since that magical run, but couldn’t manage to make it out of the second round of the playoffs in any of those years. Last season, they bounced back to finish with a 6-6 record after losing four of their first five games. Their wins included a 6-0 victory over Central Jersey Group 1 champion Glassboro, and then Florence in the first round of the playoffs.
After a prosperous run in Carneys Point, he had a new itch that needed to be scratched — and there was something about West Deptford that called his name. It was the perfect timing, as sixth-year coach Jason Morrell (Folsom’s successor), who also served as the school’s athletic director, stepped away to take on an administration role at the middle school.
The Eagle had found his nest.
Emel was approved as West Deptford’s new head football coach in December, and immediately got to work. Despite being a powerhouse under Folsom’s tenure and in Morrell’s first two seasons, the Eagles haven’t had a winning season in four years. Last year, they went 3-8 and failed to qualify for the playoffs. Emel hopes to change that.
“I can tell you two things about this place: the kids work very hard, and the people love football,” Emel, who will also serve as an elementary teacher in the district, explained. “The opportunity at this point of my career to coach a little bit of a bigger program. There’s a lot of talent here. We’re going to try to get it back to the top of the mountain.”
Throughout the offseason, the up-tick in intensity has been notable in every aspect of the game. You can just ask incoming junior and starting quarterback, Brady Cobb.
“Coach Emel has put us in a lot of great situations,” Cobb said. “We’re definitely getting a lot better. He’s totally changed a lot, introduced a lot of stuff we never really done before. I feel like we’re really coming together, too, and he knows how to win. We’ve always been working hard, but now we’re working smart and hard, together. He’s willing to sit down and spend the extra time (with me), and wants to do whatever it takes to get better to win.”
Part of that new winning experience includes taking on a more intense offseason. West Deptford was among the 11 local teams that competed in the D2 Sports Network 7on7 on July 13. They reached the semifinals of the tournament, upsetting powerhouse Camden along the way, 17-15. They also hosted their own weekly 7-on-7 tournament, in which they finished runner-up to Rancocas Valley in the final round on July 25.
Although it’s Emel’s first year with the Eagles, it’s not his first rodeo.
And West Deptford football? It’s trending in the right direction. Day-by-day, play-by-play.
Said Emel: “It’s really about the opportunity ahead. Over the next few years, I think we have the chance to do some special things.”
WHAT’S NEXT: West Deptford kicks off its season in a tilt with Manchester Township at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29 at Carey Stadium in Ocean City as part of the Battle at the Beach Football Classic.
