Graduate from Hanover Park HS in East Hanover, NJ. Member of the 90 undefeated State Championship Team and Captain his senior year. Then attended Boston College on a full scholarship and was a three year varsity letter winner and starter at center. Then had tryouts for several NFL teams and also played Arena Football for the New Jersey Red Dogs. Brian then received his masters from Boston University in Exercise Physiology. Previously, Brian had been at West Orange HS where he was the defensive coordinator. Then at Wayne Valley HS for 14 years where he was the Head Football and Track coach. Prior to coming to MO, Brian was the offensive coordinator at Hanover Park HS for 4 years. Now Coach O'Connor teaches Physical Education at Mt Olive HS. Coach O'Connor, his wife Sallie, and their two young children, Nicole and Sean, reside in Flanders.
Coach Benfatti graduated from Morris Knolls High School in the mid 90's. He attended Penn State University in which he played football and graduated with a Kinesiology degree. After graduating from PSU, he worked as an assistant for the Nittany Lions in the weight room for the football team and received a Masters degree in education from Penn State. He soon traveled home to receive a teaching and coaching position from Mount Olive HS and has been there since. Dave is married to Vanessa Benfatti and the two share three very active children.
Michael Gilbert has been teaching History at Mount Olive High School since 2001. He has been playing and coaching HS sports for over 30 years. Coach Gilbert graduated from Dover HS in 1993 where he lettered in football and baseball. Coach Gilbert received his AA from CCM, his BA from Montclair State University, and his MA in Education Administration from Jersey City University. Mike began teaching Social Studies at MO in 2001. Mike has coached football, basketball, and baseball at MO for 21 years. Mike won State and Conference Championships as a Coach in HS basketball and football. He is married to Carrie Gilbert and has two children, Casey and Michael Jr.
Coach T is in his 7th year at Mt. Olive. A Wayne Valley HS graduate. Coached Wrestling and Track & Field. Coached at Wayne Valley for 10 years before most recently coaching the Tight Ends and Linebackers at Hanover Park HS. Loves to play golf in his spare time. Lives in Wayne with his two younger brothers and 8 year old Shih-Tzu-Wyatt.
Coach Cosenzo graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Played 4 years for the Devils at Defensive Tackle. Named captain of his senior year. Started high school coaching career at Parsippany Hills High School in 1999 where he coached the offensive and defensive line. A career move brought his family to Florence, NJ where he coached at Florence High School as the offensive and defensive line coach. Sanford also served as the strength and conditioning coach. A move back to northern New Jersey in 2017 brought Sanford to Flanders where he now assists with the offensive and defensive flne at Mt. Olive High School. Sanford just began his 22nd year with the New Jersey State Department of Corrections. He currently resides In Flanders with his wife Kyle and five children Claudia, Sandra, Mason. Jenna and Antonio.
Coach Persson is the current Head Freshmen Football Coach and offensive coordinator. He he first joined the Mount Olive coaching staff in 2018. Prior to this he was the head cross country and track and field coach at Lenape Valley Regional HS. He has 10 years of coaching experience in track and field, cross country, and football; now serving as a Head track & field Coach. Kevin was a three sport varsity athlete from 2005-2009 at Mount Olive High School in football, wrestling, and track & field. Kevin attended Saint Peter's University on a track & field scholarship as a sprinter and graduated in 2013 with a bachelors in history and education. After college he competed for the Sussex County Stags football team as a defensive back. Kevin currently teaches 6th grade US History at Mount Olive Middle School.
Bio coming soon...
Bio coming soon...
Coach Merle is currently in his 5th year of coaching and teaching as a Social Studies and Special Education teacher, his 2nd at MOHS. Graduated from Muhlenberg College with a degree in History and Education. Completed his Special Education Certification at William Paterson University and a Masters in Educational Leadership and History Education through American College of Education. His previous coaching was at Ramsey and Whippany Park High Schools, coaching defensive backs, running backs and Special Teams. Served as varsity assistant coach on the Ramsey Baseball 2022 Group 2 State Championship Team. Coach Merle played collegiate football and baseball at Muhlenberg College and graduated as the winningest football class in school history.
Bio coming soon...
Bio coming soon...
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