New Football Coach Takes Charge At Bridgewater-Raritan High School

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — The Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School varsity football team is kicking off its fall season next week with a new coach at the helm.

Rick Mantz was appointed as the new head varsity football coach at Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School in April to take command of the football program that is usually ranked among the heavyweights among Group 5 schools in the state.

Mantz is a member of three elite hall of fames: the New Jersey Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association New Jersey Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the Hillsborough High School Hall of Fame.

Mantz, who once was an assistant in 1988 and 1989 at Bridgewater-Raritan High School West before the merge with East High School, has also coached as the headman at South Brunswick Township High School where NFL wide receiver Mohamed Sanu starred for him, and Passaic High School. Sanu is now with the Miami Dolphins, his fourth NFL team.

Mantz's career includes a Central Jersey, Group 4 state sectional playoff championship at his hometown of Hillsborough High School in 2000, before moving on to serve as the director of High School Relations at Rutgers University from 2016 through 2020.

Afterward, Mantz decided to retire until he got a call from John Maggio, Bridgewater-Raritan High Athletic Director.

"He said please come meet our superintendent, Bob Beers, and our new high school principal, Dan Hemberger. They explained their vision to me and I responded and told them, 'where do I sign.' " said Mantz.

With the support of Beers, Hemberger and Maggio, Mantz was able to assemble a staff of 15 coaches, which included both paid staff and volunteers. His chief lieutenant is DJ Catalano, who will be the defensive coordinator and strength coach. He enlisted from Somerville High, where some of his fellow coaches followed him to Basilone Field.

"Our goal is to run a college football program at the high school level," Mantz said. "We are the University of Bridgewater-Raritan."

In total, 132 Bridgewater-Raritan students have signed up for the team, an increase from last year’s figure of 107 players.

Summer workouts ran during the mornings of June 27 through July 15 at Basilone Field. Regular practice will begin at Basilone Field during the week of Aug. 8.

Mantz, who still lives in the community where he grew up, Hillsborough, is the father of a son, Michael (age 27), and a daughter, Kaitlyn (23). Along with serving as a coach, he will serve as a monitor at the high school.

"The kids will have a great year," said Mantz.

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