Coach Marchese Out for Season Opener

St. Joseph's Academy's season opener on Friday, August 28, will proceed without head coach Sal Marchese. Athletic director Chuck Donohue Jr. announced on Sunday night that Marchese is dealing with a medical issue and will be temporarily replaced. Assistant coach Ronn Flaim has been appointed as the acting head coach and offensive coordinator. Donohue expressed confidence in Flaim and the coaching staff, asking the community to respect Marchese's privacy and keep him in their thoughts for a speedy recovery.

Marchese was set to return to the sidelines this week after accepting the St. Joseph's head coaching role in October. This marked his first head coaching position since stepping down from Delsea in 2023. During his tenure at Delsea, Marchese achieved significant success, including 249 wins, 11 sectional titles, and the program's first state championship in his final game. He briefly returned to Delsea as a volunteer coach midway through the 2024 season and previously served as an assistant coach at Williamstown last fall.