WEST MILFORD — After a career spanning more than 30 years, the last 11 of which he spent as athletic director for the West Milford Township High School sports programs, Tim Gillen retired as of Sept. 1.
“Honored to take his place” is Joe Trentacosta, a 17-year veteran of the West Milford Township Public School district — though he says it is now a “more expansive position” than when Tim (Gillen) had it.”
In addition to teaching history at Macopin Middle School since 1996, Trentacosta coached baseball at the high school level from 2000 to 2008 and football from 1994 to 2004. In 2011, he was named the district’s Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) coordinator.
After being promoted to athletic director, Trentacosta said there was a big question as to whether he would continue as HIB coordinator. The question was answered, though, when the district saw the similarities cropping up between the state’s HIB policies and newly-implemented politics on sportsmanship, Trentacosta explains.
“The way we treat each other on and off the field and in the classroom needs to be the same,” he said.
The new code of ethics for student athletes mandates strict punishments for violators of the policy. “Student athletes can be disqualified right away for incidences of trash talking,” Trentacosta added. “It’s pretty serious.”
By working in the dual role, Trentacosta will eventually be able to implement “common language standards” throughout not only the high school and its sports programs, but the entire K through 12 district.
One of Trentacosta’s main goals in this implementation is to eliminate the social norms that are the cause of the unsportsmanlike conduct.
“Kids think, ‘I’m supposed to trash talk,’” he said.
In his first few weeks on the job, Trentacosta has already worked toward this goal by putting together a “spinoff of meet-the-coaches night,” where a guest speaker was invited to speak with the student athletes about the ramifications of bullying in sports.
“It’s pretty exciting to be a hands-on part of this process.”
Embracing “the chaos”
In addition to his dual role of athletic director and HIB coordinator, Trentacosta will be supervising the physical education and health departments at the high school as well as the driver’s education program.
“The job is so diverse and widespread now,” he said. In the span of an hour, he added, it would be no surprise for him to be called to fulfill three or four different duties.
While he admitted the job has already proved to be chaotic at times, he feels it suits him well.
“I enjoy the chaos,” he said.