Kelly looks to revive hoops program at Cape Tech; Hawks also hire new boys soccer coach

Posted: August 29th 2024

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

A former standout high school player from the area has been tasked with trying to revive the boys basketball program at the Cape May County Technical High School.

Phil Kelly, a former player and later an assistant coach at Wildwood Catholic, has been hired as Cape May Tech’s new head coach. He was officially approved for the position at the school’s board of education meeting earlier this week.

Kelly takes over a program that has struggled in recent seasons. The Hawks were reasonably competitive for a stretch that culminated with the graduation of Josh Wright, Cape May County’s all-time leading scorer with nearly 2,500 points, after the 2018-29 season. But the program has won just nine games combined over the past four seasons. The Hawks were 2-20 last season.

“I’m excited. The gym’s been redone with a new floor and Tech is a great academic school,” Kelly said. 

Cape May Tech can draw students from across Cape May County but has found it difficult to find footing in the Cape-Atlantic League. The Hawks have produced just four winning seasons since becoming a varsity program in the mid 1990s.

“There are a lot of factors in trying to build a program,” Kelly said. “We’ll start locally all over the county and look to go from the ground up.”

Kelly replaces Sam Picketts, who resigned as boys basketball and baseball coach at the close of the 2023-24 school year. Tech has yet to announce a new baseball coach.

Kelly is a 2005 graduate of Wildwood Catholic and later played one season at Cumberland County College. He served as an assistant coach at his alma mater for one season under Anthony Raffa for the 2021-22 campaign. He also previously coached at the college level, serving as an assistant coach at Cumberland County College during the 2014-15 season and at Division II Georgian Court University the following year.

“I’m super passionate about basketball,” Kelly said. “I feel like I have some knowledge of the game and I want to give back to the community. I love working with high school players. It’s all about skill development and trying to improve the game of every player.”

Cape May Tech is in the CAL United Conference, which includes other rebuilding programs and some without strong basketball traditions. The new coach said he hopes his program can compete quickly.

“We want to compete right away from Day 1,” Kelly said. “Rebuilding is definitely a word we’re going to use but at the same time we have to do our best to compete with the teams in our division. Then from there we’ll want to start competing with some of the middle-tier teams in the league as well.”

Kelly and his brother, Pat, own Kelly Painting, which mostly services Avalon and Stone Harbor.

“We are excited to welcome Phil Kelly to the Cape May Tech Athletic Department,” Cape Tech athletic director Dave Smith said in an email statement. “Phil was a great point guard for some very successful Wildwood Catholic teams … A student of the game, Phil has stayed very much in touch with local and statewide basketball over the years. More importantly, Phil knows the community and Cape May County as a whole. We look forward to him joining the Cape May Tech community as we look to open our revamped facility this year.”

HAWKS ALSO HIRE BOYS SOCCER COACH

Earlier this summer, Cape May Tech hired Anthony Cole as its new boys soccer coach. The position came open approximately one month prior to the start of preseason practices when Mark Scarpa left to take the head girls soccer coaching post at Middle Township, his alma mater.

Cole is a 2011 graduate of Cape May Tech, leading the Hawks in goals with six as a senior. He served as Scarpa’s assistant coach last fall.

Cole works as captain in the North Wildwood Fire Department.

“The Cape May Tech Athletic Department is welcoming Anthony Cole to the head coaching position for the boys soccer program,” Smith said in an emailed statement. “After one year as an assistant, Coach Cole jumped at the chance to move into the head coach role this summer and has hit the ground running. A fire captain in North Wildwood and Cape May Tech alumni, he has been a strong role model for the program and our student-athletes.”

PHIL KELLY