'Iconic' Christian Brothers Academy Coach Tom Heath to Retire

Lincroft, NJ - Tom Heath wasn’t just the best cross-country coach in New Jersey.

The 68-year-old, who announced Monday he will retire from coaching at Christian Brothers Academy, has been called the best high school cross-country coach in the United States.

Heath told his team Monday he was retiring, and the news was first reported by NJ.com.

“It was on my mind since the beginning of the school year, and then at the Monmouth County meet this year I had a lot of trouble getting up the hill (the start hill at Holmdel Park), and I knew it was time,’’ Heath told NJ.com. “I’m cooked.’’

Heath coached at CBA for the past 46 years. Incredibly, under his coaching, CBA has not lost a dual meet since 1974 and Heath said that is his biggest source of pride. CBA runners also won 21 Meet of Champions team titles and 27 state championships under him.

Heath himself is a CBA graduate. He will stay on at the school as a math teacher. Sean McCafferty, a CBA and Princeton grad, currently Heath’s top assistant, is expected to be named his successor, according to the Asbury Park Press.