The hiring of an assistant football coach at the high school level isn’t usually met with much fanfare around these parts, but every so often there’s an exception.
Such as, when the incoming assistant has spent 29 years as a head coach and led his Nottingham teams to 157 victories, 13 state playoff appearances, two state sectional finals and one state sectional title. Enhancing the story is that Ewing coach Ross Maddalon first played the game under his incoming helper, while serving on his staff after graduation.
That is what the Blue Devils are getting in Jon “Big Dawg” Adams, the former Nottingham coach and athletic director who retired from his AD duties in June. Adams was expected to be approved by the Ewing school board at its Aug. 28 meeting.
Ever since the Big Dawg became an administrator in 2019, he yearned to get back on the field. He began talking with his former player in the winter, and since there was a vacancy on his staff, Maddalon jumped at the opportunity to hire three decades worth of experience. Adams got an early start, helping Ewing with its summer workouts.
“You don’t see too many situations like this obviously,” said Maddalon, who’s entering his second year as Devils coach. “It’s definitely unique, he was the first guy who coached me. I graduated in 2001, he gave me my first coaching opportunity that same year.
“When he brought this up to me, I had a few spots open on the staff. We sat down, it made sense. We’re able to pick up a coach who has coached for 30-plus years, somebody who knows his stuff. I don’t always have to look over his shoulder because I know he knows the game of football. But at the same time, he was my coach, he was the one who gave me my first shot.”
Kind of like payback in a way.
“It’s payback in a good way,” Maddalon said. “He gave me an opportunity and he asked me for one, this was a good chance to give it to him. On top of everything else, it’s somebody who I know. Even when I didn’t coach on his staff, we always remained in close contact and remained very good friends. He’s not just a mentor but also a colleague and friend. Also someone who’s very loyal, and that’s important.”
Adams, who was a receiver and linebacker at Steinert and Glassboro State (now Rowan University) will coach quarterbacks and outside linebackers. He will also run the JV offense, allowing him to get back to his play calling days.
Adams summed up his feelings about the position in one word.
“Thrilled!” he exclaimed.
The Dawg realized that being an athletic director was not for him about a month after he took the job. Coaching had been in his blood since childhood and he missed it immensely, and reflected on those who wrapped the pigskin around him at an early age.
“Just not having that everyday connection with the kids, being behind a desk way too much…it sucked!” Adams said. “My uncle Mickey made a huge impact on me when I was young as did my older cousin Roger Grimes. My uncle got me started playing youth sports. Roger was my coach my last year of Hamilton Football League football. He believed in me and made me his quarterback. I did not like the position but he coached me up and got me believing in myself.”
That belief eventually helped form some of the greatest teams in Nottingham history.
Adams guided the Stars to the first playoff appearance in the school’s 12-year history in 1993. In 2005 Nottingham went 10-2 and made its first state finals appearance before losing to Ocean. The Northstars had four straight winning seasons from 2010-13, going 32-11 and upsetting defending champion Neptune in the 2012 CJ III state sectional title game. Nottingham won a school record 11 games that year. The Stars went 22-8 over his final three seasons.
Although he did not play football in high school, Ewing AD Kyle Kaminskas attended Nottingham during the first glory era of 2002-05 and saw back then what Adams could do.
“Jon possesses a combination of skills, qualities and attributes that enable him to effectively guide and develop our student-athletes in areas such as football, business, personal development and more,” Kaminskas said. “He has already connected with our student body and is earning the respect of all around him. Our student-athletes need positive role models in the classroom and on the fields and I truly believe we found one in coach Adams.”
Another fan of the hiring is former Northstar Robert Wiggs, arguably the greatest receiver in school history.
“Everything goes up times 10 when he comes around – expectations, intensity, accountability, responsibility, work ethic and most importantly, a winning attitude,” said Wiggs, who runs Playmaker Athletics in Ewing and also coaches the Ewing Junior Blue Devils. “I train a few kids at Ewing who play the skill positions and when I found out he was going there I told my boys ‘Y’all better get your stuff together because he’s coming in there to win, he expects greatness everyday and if you can’t give him that every day he will find somebody that will.”
“He always finds somebody,” Wiggs added with a laugh.
Adams remembers Maddalon as a hard working player and a starter on Nottingham’s 2000 offensive line “which was one of the best we ever had.” He is anxious to work with his former protege.
“Absolutely!” Adams said. “I am excited to help in any way he and the staff need me to. I just want to get back to doing what I love.”
He added that there is no odd feeling about the role reversal in the two men’s position of authority.
“Heck no, it’s been great,” Adams said. “Ross is doing a wonderful job at Ewing. Kids work very hard and I enjoyed the summer program. These kids remind me of our Nottingham kids. They work very hard everyday and bring a positive attitude.
“I am really excited to work with Ross, (assistants) Amir (Siddiqu), Gatt (Frank “The Godfather” Gatto), John Berei, Kenny (Nehila) and the rest of the staff as well as Kyle (Kaminskas). We had a great summer and the kids answered a lot of my questions. We have some really talented kids – but they also understand that you need to work as well.”
The fact that Maddalon graduated 22 years ago takes away any strange feelings Adams might have about working under a former player.
The head man has coached ever since high school so in that respect the two are on equal ground. The only possible concern would be how Adams can adjust to being an assistant after being the head man for so long.
The Big Dawg assured it will not be an issue.
“No, because I have no ego,” he said. “This is Ross’s team. I am here to help, not hinder. Ross played ball for me, coached on and off for me. He is like my son. I am here to help, as are a number of familiar faces I know. Just let me coach and help where needed. That is all I am asking. I have been an assistant many times before. I will offer my opinion when asked in meetings and when appropriate.”
Maddalon broached the subject just to make sure.
“When we had our meeting, I said ‘Not for nothing, this is gonna be the first time in 35 years or so, that you’re not gonna get the final say on things, are you gonna be able to be OK with that?’” the coach said. “He said ‘It’s no problem, I want to coach again, I want to coach with you guys, coach with guys I can trust.’ That’s what you want to hear.”
Wiggs cannot wait to see the results.
“I would say the biggest thing he brings to these young men is guidance, knowledge and work ethic,” he said. “A lot of people look at coach Ross and Ewing and see a team that went 4-5 last season. They were a very young team and got a late start with the late summer hiring of coach Ross but they were in every game until the final minutes except one. Big Dawg is going to make sure they tighten up in those situations. He also gives coach Ross some help with scouting, adjustments and player confidence.”
The record-holding receiver feels the good news doesn’t just end with Adams when it comes to Maddalon’s assistants
“Ewing is going to open a lot of eyes this year,” he said. “I think coach Amir is one of the best young D coordinators in Central Jersey alongside the legendary coach Gat. With the addition of Big Dawg, that staff alone, on paper, is one of the best in the county. All the kids have to do is buy in. I can see them making a big improvement from four wins and going to the playoffs.”
However it plays out, Adams is just happy to be back on the sidelines.
Jon “Big Dawg” Adams, the former Nottingham coach and athletic director who retired in June, was expected to be approved by the Ewing School Board as the an assistant football coach at EHS in August. Photo by Wes Kirkpatrick.),
