DeCicco excited about opportunity to take over Absegami baseball program in 2019

By RAY LEWIS
Student Correspondent
Absegami High School is not known for producing new coaches very often, which is why the recent appointment of Mike DeCicco as head coach of the baseball program is a very meaningful and important development for the staff, students and community of the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District.
The name Mike DeCicco is not unfamiliar to the population of Absegami. In fact, the man can even be described as a well-known and respected gentleman in the school. Why? He started off his coaching career as coach of the freshman team and has worked his way up to the title of head coach of the program after only three years at Absegami, as he’ll take over next spring for longtime coach Brian Wastell, who recently stepped down. And while not particularly surprised by the recent promotion, coach DeCicco is undoubtedly in high spirits after earning the position.
“I feel very lucky and motivated to be taking over this program,” said DeCicco, “and when it was officially board-approved, I was definitely very happy, excited and ready to go.”

To put how big this development is into perspective, it is important to look at the past head coaches of the baseball program. You don’t need to look very far because there are only two. Ralph Miller and Wastell, two of the most respected faces in the school’s history, are the only other head coaches in the team’s existence. And having coached under Wastell for the past three years, DeCicco is understandably grateful for all of the wisdom that has been passed on to him and is looking to incorporate some of it into his style of play.
“We definitely come from the same school of baseball,” said DeCicco, “and, you know, in a way, I think I am a little bit of an old-school baseball guy. I’m a ‘put the ball in play,’ ‘throw strikes,’ ‘play defense kind of guy.’”
The other man to implement the old-school methods into his coaching, Wastell, seems to be just as ecstatic for DeCicco as Mike is for himself.
“I feel very confident that he’s going to do a great job. He’s been with us for three years and it’s been the game plan, whether he’s known it or not, to prep him to take over, and I think he is going to do a great job,” Wastell said. “I think he will show his love of the game to the players and show how to play the game the right way, from a fundamental standpoint, but also from a respect-of-the-game standpoint. I have complete confidence that he’s going to do a great job for Absegami.”
DeCicco, who seems to have a very modest and humble outlook on the situation, is looking to build on the successes of the program in the past, rather than ignore them altogether.
“I’m more looking to take the torch from (Wastell) and continue it rather than re-do what doesn’t need to be re-done,” said DeCicco, who is also involved with Chico & Sons, an eatery in Northfield and coming soon to Atlantic City that is run by his father, Rich.
No matter what happens with the team, however, one of his players will undeniably have his back throughout the entire season.
“I think he’s going to do fine because I feel like he’s walking into a good situation and also because we have a lot of good seniors on the team,” said Sam Daggers, a Division I commit to Wagner College. “I think we will do well. I think we have a chance to win the conference and even have a deep state playoff run with DeCicco as our coach.”
Daggers is one of the many players on the team who has known DeCicco for a few years now, along with many of the freshmen he coached in his first year at Absegami. DeCicco has gotten to know the young baseball players well over his time coaching and sees something that can be considered rare in high school sports — a core group of seniors that is more of a family rather than just a bunch of teammates.
“Building a program is more than just that year that you’re playing. It’s a bond that lasts forever and for the seniors to take ownership of,” DeCicco said. “I’ll probably say this a lot over the course of the year, but I want (the seniors) to come back when they’re at college, when they get married, when they have their kids, and I want them to feel comfortable coming back.”
It is safe to say that coach DeCicco, who spent his playing days at Mainland Regional, is more than content coaching this group of oncoming seniors. With any new head coach, however, the role is surely daunting as there are difficulties for anyone who is assuming the role as the head of a varsity program. DeCicco, though, is hoping that some of his plans for the team will help provide for a smooth transition for the players, and, at the same time, get them excited for the upcoming season.
“We are lucky enough to be on the rotation in our school for new uniforms, so I think that will be a nice draw (for players) with me being in my first year as head coach and having new uniforms. I also think with the Booster Club, for now, we are going to try to make some minor improvements (to the field),” DeCicco said.
These, along with other plans for the season, will hopefully help DeCicco in reaching his goals for the team, which include competing for the Cape-Atlantic League National Conference title and making a deep run in the playoffs. Whatever the outcome for the Braves is in 2019, though, DeCicco said he will try to make the home games enjoyable for not only the players, but also the family, friends, and student body as a whole, which may very well bring some new excitement to baseball at Absegami.
Ray Lewis is a senior at Absegami High School and a member of the cross country and baseball teams.