Caldwell Football Coach to Retire From Teaching

After 46 years with the Caldwell-West Caldwell School District, Ken Trimmer will retire this month as a physical education teacher with James Caldwell High School.

He will, however, remain the school's longtime head football coach, Superintendent Daniel Gerardi said Wednesday.

Trimmer, whose team finished 8-3 and reached the North Jersey Section 2, Group 2 semifinals last fall, was appointed head coach for the 2010 season at a Board of Education meeting last month.

The Chiefs will open the season at home against Montville on Sept. 11, and will conclude the year with a Thanksgiving Day game at Verona. 

Trimmer, who has been a member of the team's coaching staff for all but one of his 46 years with the district and has been the head coach for the past 16 years, has guided the Chiefs to six conference championships and three state titles.

In addition, Trimmer previously coached the boys and girls basketball teams and led the girls team to the 1996 Group 2 state championship.

Trimmer began his career as a physical education teacher at Grover Cleveland Junior High School in 1964 before transferring to the high school 16 years ago. Trimmer notified the district within the past month of his intent to retire, Gerardi said.

"He has embodied everything you can ask for," said Athletic Director Rich Porfido, who heads the high school's physical education department. "He sets an example and is a role model for students and athletes. The students—and even other teachers who he mentors—learn the right way from him."

Trimmer will be one of eight district personnel retiring at the end of this school year who will be recognized at Monday night's Board of Education meeting.

Also retiring will be Lincoln School Principal Charles Rees Williams, Monica Williams, a Caldwell High math teacher, Carol Capasso, a physical education teacher at Grover Cleveland Middle School, Richard Sparano, a science teacher at Grover Cleveland, Diane Casciano, a Jefferson School teacher, Teresa Matrisciano, a Lincoln School teacher, and Rosemarie Clark, a learning disabilities teacher consultant in the special education department.