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Neumann-Goretti plans to field football squad in fall

Former Imhotep boss Albie Crosby is a head-coaching candidate

Neumann-Goretti plans to restart its football program after shutting it down last October because of a shortage of players and concerns about injuries.

When its roster dropped from about 28 to 19 players, N-G canceled its two remaining Catholic League Blue Division games and discontinued its Thanksgiving Day rivalry against Southern.

"We're definitely going to have a team," said Lincoln Townsend Sr., who was the head coach last year. "We expect to have 30-plus players next season."

Townsend is stepping away as the top man after one year, so N-G is in the process of selecting a new head coach.

Townsend, N-G's dean of students, said he made that decision because he "has a lot on his plate." He coaches the boys' and girls' track and field teams.

Townsend added that he plans to stay involved in football as the Saints' associate head coach.

One of the candidates to take charge at N-G, which went 0-6 overall and 0-4 in Blue Division action last season, is former Imhotep Charter head coach Albie Crosby.

Citing personal reasons, Crosby resigned from his position at Imhotep after guiding the Panthers to a 15-0 record and the PIAA Class 3A state football championship in 2015.

"I'm always trying to help kids get to the next level," Crosby, 47, said. "In the case of Neumann-Goretti, I'd like to bring back the excitement that once surrounded the team in South Philly."

Crosby posted a 53-6 record in four seasons at Imhotep. The West Philly native was an assistant at West Catholic, his alma mater, for 11 years and running backs coach for La Salle University's now-defunct team for two seasons.

"I have a vision and a plan for how to get Neumann-Goretti up and going again," he said. "I'm just waiting to see if I get the job."

Townsend said he expected the school to announce its new head coach by the end of next week.

Dillon to coach Nazareth

Jimmy Dillon, who starred at Holy Ghost Prep (class of 1996) and went on to play at Notre Dame, has been named Nazareth Academy's new basketball coach.

As a senior captain and point guard, he helped lead Notre Dame to a 22-15 record and the National Invitational Tournament championship game in 2000.

Dillon, 38, averaged 16.8 points and 4.6 assists while sparking Holy Ghost to a 28-3 record and the Class 3A state semifinals in 1996.

Dillon runs the Hoops 24-7 Basketball Academy with partner Frank Pellegrino, who played at Archbishop Ryan (class of 1998) and Gwynedd Mercy.

Breakthrough

After gaining statewide glory for the seventh time in eight seasons, Neumann-Goretti's Carl Arrigale was finally voted Class 3A boys' basketball coach of the year by a panel of Pennsylvania sportswriters and media members.

"I just laugh about it," Arrigale said. "It doesn't matter to me. What matters most is us winning the state title."

Basketball notes

Archbishop Ryan senior guard Izaiah Brockington announced Monday that he had requested his release from New Jersey Institute of Technology and said he planned to enroll at a prep school. . . . Abington's Eric Dixon, a 6-foot-7 sophomore forward, and Roman Catholic freshman point guard Lynn Greer III are part of the 2017 USA under-16 national team training camp roster. Twelve of the group's 24 players will be selected to compete in the FIBA Championships of the Americas from June 14 to 18 in Formosa, Argentina. Dixon has scholarship offers from Drexel, La Salle, Monmouth, and St. Joseph's. . . . Archbishop Carroll's Jesse McPherson, a 6-6 senior forward, has committed to Lock Haven. . . . Chester senior guard Ahrod Carter, who drilled 73 three-pointers last season, is headed to Manor College in Jenkintown. . . . Math, Civics, and Sciences senior guard Tymair Johnson will continue his career at NJCAA Division I Paris College in Texas. . . . Father Judge senior guard Marc Rodriguez and N-G senior forward Mike Millsip will join forces at East Stroudsburg. . . . Xzavier Malone, who starred at Plymouth Whitemarsh for two years, is transferring from Rider after one season. The 6-4 wing guard, who played only 4.8 minutes per game for the Broncs, said his next-stop options are Fairleigh Dickinson, North Carolina A&T, and St. Francis (Pa.). He is also considering a number of junior colleges.

robrien@phillynews.com

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