In the Caldwells: West Essex High Appoints New Athletic Director

Anthony Minnella, a long-time West Essex High School Industrial Arts and Special Education teacher, has been approved as the new West Essex Director of Athletics/Supervisor of Health and Physical Education.

According to a release, Minnella - a resident of North Caldwell - has spent more than 15 years coaching wrestling, managing lacrosse and field hockey clubs and an owning an electrical contracting company. He has also held several NJSIAA wrestling leadership positions.

Minnella has spent 24 years teaching at West Essex Regional Schools, 10 years in industrial arts and 14 years in special education. He also held a variety of leadership positions since 1992 including Vice President of the NJSIAA wrestling committee, Region 4 Wrestling President and a member of the NJSIAA State Wrestling Seeding Committee (Team and Individual).

Minnella is also an experienced coach, serving as assistant and head coaching wrestling at Passaic Valley High School for 19 years before coming to West Essex where he was an assistant coach for five years and head coach for three years. Minnella also received numerous coaching honors including Region Coach of the Year two times, Conference Coach of the Year five times, County Coach of the year four times and District Coach of the Year four times. He has led many of his teams to numerous championships and titles.

Minnella succeeds Damion Macioci, who served as West Essex Director of Athletics/Supervisor of Health and Physical Education for more than six years. The West Essex Regional Board of Education approved Minnella’s appointment at its April 27 meeting. He officially started his new position on April 28.

Minnella has a bachelor’s degree in industrial arts education (certified K-12) and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Montclair State University. He also received certification in special education K-12 and elementary education K-12 from Montclair State. In addition, Minnella has served as a class advisor at West Essex High School and volunteered his time as a High School graduation chair and director of the Annual Hornet Wrestling Club Tournament.

Minnella lives in North Caldwell with his wife and children.

Photo courtesy of Allison Freeman

Pictured above: Anthony Minnella

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