Ex-Manasquan Girls Hoops Coach Explains Resignation

Former Manasquan High School girls basketball coach Felix Romero on Tuesday said he after it became apparent that a teaching job at the school he had hoped to land would never come to fruition. 

Romero resigned over the weekend, but before he could submit his official letter of resignation and contact his team, school officials posted the coaching position on a state school jobs website, he said. 

After the media caught wind of the apparent vacancy, and the coach's phone began ringing off the hook, Romero said he couldn't lie about his plans to leave. 

Romero said the decision was tough, but the commute from his home in Perth Amboy was taking its toll on him and his family. 

"So with the travel, the driving, the tolls, the hikes and the gas, it just became tough. I don't have a full-time job right now, which is what I'm looking for, so I thought it was best for me and my family," Romero said. 

Romero said he told Athletic Director Ronald Kornegay his decision to leave late last week and had planned to hand-deliver his official resignation letter on Monday. 

Kornegay on Tuesday declined to comment on Romero's resignation. 

"My team found out through the media before I was able to let them know," Romero said. "I didn't make it official, so it was tough because I told them I planned on resigning and I was going to get in a letter of resignation and then all of a sudden I'm getting calls, 'Hey did you resign?' I wanted to notify my team and everyone else, and I guess with the posting it broke out," Romero said.

Romero said he's spoken to a few of his former players and sent an email to the team and their parents thanking them for the last three years. 

"It was tough. The last three years coaching at Manasquan has been a big part of my life and thing didn't play out the way I wish they did. But like I said, it's tough anytime you break up like that," Romero said.

Romero said that when he came on to coach the team three years ago, he got the impression from school officials that a teaching job would open up. But when it became apparent that wasn't happening, the coach decided to move on, he said. 

"Once I realized I was not going to be teaching there next year, I thought it was best for me and my family to resign," Romero said. 

Schools Superintendent Geraldine Margin did not return calls for comment regarding Romero's resignation on Monday and Tuesday. 

Romero said that he's open to coaching somewhere else next season, but he's more focused on finding a full-time teaching position closer to home. 

"I'm not in any rush to jump right back into coaching," Romero said.