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Greg Toal out at Don Bosco

Matt in SGS : 2/16/2017 3:37 pm
Apparently Head Coach Greg Toal has retired from Don Bosco after he turned them into a football power. He was the head coach at River Dell in the 1980s when I was there, and it was part of the connection with Parcells (a River Dell alumnus) that brought a touch of the Giants to what he was doing as he built that program before going to Hackensack. Toal's son married Phil Simms daughter as well a few years back.

Still, this one feels like he was pushed out. Mike Teel is taking over at Bosco.
http://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/high-school/varsity-aces/2017/02/16/football-greg-toal-retires-don-bosco-prep/97986662/ - ( New Window )
I believe he's turning 65 this year  
njm : 2/16/2017 4:18 pm : link
Maybe he wants a break from the long hours of recruiting.
Matt, I feel he leaves a mixed legacy (long)  
Bobby Humphrey's Earpad : 2/16/2017 4:33 pm : link
As an X's and O's H.S. football coach, he basically has no peer, particularly with line play and on defense. He won from Saddle Brook to Hackensack to Bosco. And he built a program that basically raised the entire profile of New Jersey football to a national force.

That being said, there's the downside, where he built Bosco by also really blurring the lines of recruiting. Kids living in hotels, resource rooms, hiring parents, full rides, etc. (common knowledge they gave Peppers free housing). And Partridge and Paramus Catholic caught up by completely erasing the line, which led to Toal ironically calling out Partridge for having "money guys", when the first money guy was Phil Simms.

Why it feels like he's being pushed out because Bosco has slowly and quietly dialed things way back - the academic standards have gone back up. There are some other things, but those are the main ones I'll remember.
I think this is the end for them as a powerhouse...  
EricJ : 2/16/2017 6:39 pm : link
Teel will not have the ability to replicate what Toal did. It is unfortunate...
Just saw this n News 12, their sports anchor  
Section331 : 2/16/2017 7:39 pm : link
(Yes, apparently they have one!) spoke to Toal, who wouldn't speak on camera. Said Toal told him it wasn't his decision, and that he just found out last night. Meanwhile, the smarmy douche AD McAleer, when asked if Toal had retired, said "Yes...umm...that's what I've been told".

I can see moving on from Toal, but treat the guy with some respect.
Even more amazing...  
EricJ : 2/16/2017 8:55 pm : link
while Greg may have been one of the best high school coaches in the country a few years back, his son Brian (playing for Bosco) was most likely the most highly recruited high school football player that year. Any idea how hard that would be to duplicate? That may never happen again... ever
Not sure about Teel  
Pete in MD : 2/16/2017 8:58 pm : link
he might be a little too green.
Teel was a professional QB i think he can coach a  
gtt350 : 2/16/2017 9:50 pm : link
High school football team
Bosco  
blue42 : 2/16/2017 9:50 pm : link
gets the cream of the crop.....that won't change.
It's a shame, Pete, but  
CT Charlie : 2/16/2017 9:59 pm : link
gtt's outlook is a bit jaded.
This sure doesn't sound like an amicable retirement  
Bobby Humphrey's Earpad : 2/16/2017 10:10 pm : link
Quote:
When asked Thursday night if he could confirm he retired and it was solely his decision, Toal said, "I can’t answer that right now. I’m sorry.”

Link - ( New Window )
Its more about St Joe's success  
NNJ Tom : 2/17/2017 9:18 am : link
Augie Hoffmann is much younger and has had success recently. The Boosters at DB, chasing the flavor of the day, wanted to go younger too.

Its more about age discrimination than anything else.

Not everything is as it seems...  
LarmerTJR : 2/17/2017 4:31 pm : link
but if you think Toal just suddenly chose to"retire", I have a bridge to sell you...He was a great coach and made tremendous strides for North NJ football, and he will be extremely hard to replace, and I am saying this as a BC grad...
Toal always ruffled feathers wrong the DBP admin  
Section331 : 2/17/2017 4:38 pm : link
and boosters, but brass was willing to look the other way when he was winning championships. That time has passed, and may never return, so I think they were looking for a reason to push him out.
"Among", not wrong.  
Section331 : 2/17/2017 4:39 pm : link
.
Best HS football coach I've ever seen.  
Crispino : 2/17/2017 8:58 pm : link
Never liked the guy, but have to give him his due. He was a terrific football coach who won everywhere he coached. Also not a great guy who skirted the rules and redshirted all of his Don's in 8th grade. Pretty obvious he was pushe d out the door.

And gtt, just because someone played backup QB in the pros doesn't mean he can run an elite level high school program. The skill sets necessary to succeed at each aren't necessarily comparable at all.
"All of his sons"  
Crispino : 2/17/2017 9:00 pm : link
.
RE: Not sure about Teel  
LauderdaleMatty : 2/18/2017 9:50 am : link
In comment 13363711 Pete in MD said:
Quote:
he might be a little too green.


Chatter is he was being out worked a bit recruiting wise and Teel
was getting offers. Bosco pushed him out. Pretty obvious.
RE: RE: Not sure about Teel  
Bobby Humphrey's Earpad : 2/18/2017 10:05 am : link
In comment 13364836 LauderdaleMatty said:
Quote:
In comment 13363711 Pete in MD said:


Quote:


he might be a little too green.



Chatter is he was being out worked a bit recruiting wise and Teel
was getting offers. Bosco pushed him out. Pretty obvious.


Ironic how Toal is getting the same exit Stengel got.
RE: RE: RE: Not sure about Teel  
LauderdaleMatty : 2/18/2017 11:58 am : link
In comment 13364846 Bobby Humphrey's Earpad said:
Quote:
In comment 13364836 LauderdaleMatty said:


Quote:


In comment 13363711 Pete in MD said:


Quote:


he might be a little too green.



Chatter is he was being out worked a bit recruiting wise and Teel
was getting offers. Bosco pushed him out. Pretty obvious.



Ironic how Toal is getting the same exit Stengel got.


Karma? It's interesting as in S Florida St Thomas had a similar situation but their legendary coach moved to AD not forced out.
Bumping this back up  
Matt in SGS : 2/20/2017 7:38 pm : link
this weekend a bunch of his former players went to his house to drop off things from his office at Don Bosco. Toal said he can't say anything but he will make a statement this week. Sounds like the lawyers and a wrongful dismissal lawsuit is coming.
here is the story and  
Matt in SGS : 2/20/2017 7:39 pm : link
pictures
http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/8063461915192087214/you-can-tell-in-his-eyes-he-doesnt-want-to-leave-don-bosco-players-pay-greg-toal-a-home-visit/ - ( New Window )
Bumping this back up  
Bobby Humphrey's Earpad : 2/23/2017 10:20 pm : link
Bosco sent out a statement today confirming Toal was pushed out. But here's some specific language:

Quote:
"In the last few years, however, issues arose that caused me to evaluate our plans for the future leadership of our football program. As a result, about a year ago, senior leadership of the school implemented certain measures and further engaged Coach Toal regarding the future of the program. Ultimately, however, I was not satisfied that this path fully served the long-term interests of the students and school. Accordingly, earlier this month, I made the decision as Director/President that a formal change in our coaching staff should be implemented."


Pretty straight forward and this summarizes multiple things already stated in the thread with some new wrinkles. Peppers' comments still linger and they didn't want Toal to stay past his sell-by date. They wanted a similar transition that Karcich & Augie had at Joe's (Sabella winning at PC didn't help either). Toal agreed to play ball and then changed his mind - now they have a mess.
Link - ( New Window )
The guy can get another coaching job  
EricJ : 2/23/2017 10:52 pm : link
in about 10 seconds. His voice mail box is probably filled right now with other schools who want to interview him.

I am afraid that this program may never be the same.
Teel played 4 years at Bosco and knows the culture inside out  
gtt350 : 2/24/2017 7:41 pm : link
he then played 4 years at Rutgers helping enroll Bosco recruits nad leading Rutgers to ta #12 ranking in the country. then he plays 3 years in Seattle,
I think he knows his X's and O's as well as NJ and the surrounding area
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