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Haddonfield’s Delano selected NJ coach of the year

Frank DeLano, The Inquirer's South Jersey football coach of the year, earned another honor last weekend by being named the New Jersey Football Coaches Association state coach of the year.

Frank DeLano, The Inquirer's South Jersey football coach of the year, earned another honor last weekend by being named the New Jersey Football Coaches Association state coach of the year.

DeLano was honored during a banquet Sunday in Edison. This past season, he guided Haddonfield to an 11-1 record and the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 2 title, beating top seed West Deptford, 16-8, for the championship.

The win avenged the Bulldogs' only defeat, a 31-28 regular-season loss to West Deptford.

The Group 2 championship was Haddonfield's first sectional title since the advent of NJSIAA playoffs in 1974.

"It was a humbling honor, especially when you consider there are 360 schools that play football in the state and all the great coaches," DeLano said. "It's really a great day for Haddonfield football and all the people who contributed to our success."

DeLano said that the biggest honor was winning the Group 2 title.

"It was great to be part of such a special team, and the great memories are what everybody will have for the rest of their lives," he said.

The NJFCA honors one overall state coach of the year and four other sectional winners – in North 1, North II, Central and South.

This year's South Jersey winner was Cherokee's P.J. Mehigan, whose 12-0 Chiefs won their second consecutive South Jersey Group 4 title and were ranked No. 1 in South Jersey by The Inquirer.