Eastern promotes Stinson to wrestling coach

Bobby Stinson has been named wrestling coach at Eastern.

Stinson, a Vikings assistant since the 2005-06 season, was hired Wednesday by the Eastern Regional High School Board of Education.

Stinson replaces Wayne Murschell, who resigned on Aug. 26 after one season. Murschell coached the Vikings to a 14-7 record last season. He left because he and more than a dozen other teachers lost their jobs as part of budget cuts.

Eastern earned a district title in each of the five years in which Stinson was an assistant. In his coaching career, Stinson has helped guide more than 30 district champions, 20 region champs, and five state-title winners, including his brother, Hank Stinson, who graduated last year.

"I'm very excited to be given this opportunity," Stinson said of his first head-coaching position. "This is my sixth year coaching, five at Eastern. I have matured as a person and as a coach, and I'm excited about stepping up to the plate and seeing where it goes."

Stinson, 27, graduated from Camden Catholic in 2002, when he won a state title at 130 pounds. He also won four district and four region championships.

Stinson is a teacher's assistant at the Yale Alternative School in Cherry Hill. He expects to complete a master's degree in secondary special education next year.