Even though it is his first season as head coach of the Pascack Valley Boys Basketball Team, John Michael Santulli has already experienced one of his favorite coaching memories as a Panther.
“Getting our first win together on the road at Wayne Hills will always be a great memory,” Santulli said.
Santulli has coached at multiple levels. He previously served as head coach at Clifton High School, Westwood High School, and Teaneck High School; he was also an assistant coach at Midland Park High School. At the college level, Santulli coached at Caldwell University, a Division II school in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC).
Last year, Santulli became a varsity assistant coach under Coach Al Coleman, and the team finished the season with a record of 11-15. After last season, Coleman stepped down as Head Boys Varsity Basketball Coach; Santulli took over the position.
When Santulli first came to the Valley, he called it a lucky opportunity. Santulli was honored to be Coleman’s assistant coach, but he didn’t know what the future held.
“I had no idea that it would present the opportunity to be the head coach here,” Santulli said.
Santulli doesn’t remember exactly what got him interested in coaching, but he credits his father as a key influence.
“I don’t really remember the ‘why’,” Santulli said. “I only know that my dad was the best coach I ever played for, and I wanted to be like him.”
Santulli grew up playing basketball; his high school career was spent as a Maroon at Ridgewood High School.
While Santulli is a coach here at PV, he teaches at Clifton High School.
“I love my teaching job at Clifton, and I love coaching here,” Santulli said. “I live locally, so I think it’s a really great situation for me…I have a great assistant coach in [Ron] Villone [who teaches] in the building, so it has been seamless.”
The Panthers began this season 3-0 for the first time since 2013. Those three wins came against Wayne Hills High School, River Dell High School, and Ramsey High School.
Santulli looks to continue his team’s success in the upcoming games, whether that’s in league play, the Jamboree, or the state tournament.
