Montclair High School Has New Head Boys’ Basketball Coach

MONTCLAIR, NJ — A former Mounties standout has been named as the new head coach of the boys’ basketball team at Montclair High School.

The Montclair Board of Education unanimously approved the appointment of Cecil Stinson during their meeting on Monday.

Following an extensive search, Stinson was selected to lead the program after an “extensive search,” administrators said, noting that he brings nearly 20 years of experience to the table.

Most recently, Stinson served as head basketball coach of Cristo Rey Newark (formerly Christ the King High School). Prior to that, he served as the junior varsity basketball coach of Christ the King. He is a former Mounties basketball player scoring more than 1,000 points during his athletic career and serving as a captain for two years.

Stinson will take the reins on July 1.

Stinson said his key goals include developing players and “a new style of play,” building staff and boosting alumni engagement.

“As a former player, I am confident in my abilities and committed to the success of the Mounties basketball program, which will be built on the groundwork of trust, communication, relationship building and integrity,” Stinson said.

“While there are a number of top tier program expectations, it is immensely important to me that the players have an active role and take pride in their academic profile,” Stinson said. “The tools that you gain from playing a sport like basketball translate directly to real world experiences. As a coaching staff, we will ensure our student athletes have the resources they need to also thrive in the academic setting.”

Superintendent Jonathan Ponds was among those who offered enthusiastic praise for the new head coach.

“What resonated was Coach Stinson’s level of commitment and dedication to developing players in addition to his strong leadership qualities,” Ponds said. “We immediately recognized his passion about mentoring adolescents and helping to mold them into confident, responsible and productive young adults.”

MHS Principal Jeff Freeman said he is excited to have Stinson at the helm of the team.

“One of the things that stood out to me was Coach Stinson’s emphasis on the importance of our student athletes being able to use what they have learned from being a part of the basketball team for life, both in and outside of MHS,” Freeman said.

“Coach Stinson wants our student athletes to experience success while at MHS and beyond,” Freeman added.

The same sentiment was echoed by Athletic Director Patrick Scarpello, who pointed out that Stinson played collegiately at Post University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in human services.

“Through the interview process I was moved by Coach Stinson’s commitment to the community of Montclair,” Scarpello said. “[He] spoke passionately about his desire to not only grow our high school team to compete at the highest level, but to also get the youth programs involved. I believe Coach Stinson will be a great asset to the Montclair community.”

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