A new era in Don Bosco Prep athletics history began when Casey Schick took over the reins of the storied Ironmen program in January, 2024, a coach who’s no stranger to Don Bosco soccer or North Jersey soccer success.
Prior to serving as the freshman head coach and an assistant varsity coach for the Ironmen the past two seasons, Schick orchestrated a dominant five-year run as the head coach of his alma mater, Glen Rock High School, where, from 2016-2020, Schick guided the Panthers to a sparkling 71-18-8 (.763) record. His Glen Rock tenure was highlighted by his being named the 2018 NJ.com Boys Soccer Coach of the Year, following a season that saw his team earn its first ever Bergen County Tournament Title, shutting out Ramsey, 3-0, in the championship game.
Glen Rock entered the 2018 state tournament with an 18-0-1 record and breezed past Manchester Regional, Lenape Valley, Lakeland and Ramsey by a combined score of 18-2 to win the North 1, Group 2 championship. In the Group 2 semifinals, the Panthers faced a Hackestown team that had allowed just three goals in its run to the North 2, Group 2 title. Glen Rock won, 6-0, to earn its spot in the Group 2 final, where it fell to the No. 1 team in the state Holmdel, 3-1. Schick’s leadership skills and soccer acumen are unquestioned. But from his two years of experience on staff under the legendary Roy Nygren, he well knows that being a head coach at Don Bosco Prep is unlike any other job in the state, given the school’s deep Salesian emphasis, coupled with its sterling academic and athletic reputation.
“Our number one goal as a staff is to make the players understand that we want them to grow and mature through their faith and through their community. That’s our number one goal,” Schick said. “Our faith is always prominent at practice and at games. Whenever we’re together as a team, we pray before and after practice , before and after games, so we do take that piece seriously and it’s talked about and preached every day that we’re together. If it’s on the soccer field or at a team fundraiser, or we’re just getting together for a team breakfast.” Doing the right things off the field, carrying yourself in the proper manner, and living a true Catholic life go hand in hand with winning games at Don Bosco Prep. “Our number two goal is to compete and to win and get back to those county finals and those county championship-caliber teams. But we can’t do that until we are all in on our first goal.”
Whether it’s coaching a roster he’s inherited, as will be the case this fall, or going forward being charged with accepting new student-athletes to Don Bosco’s pristine campus, Schick and his staff are seeking a particular type of person and soccer player. “I’m definitely looking for a team-first type player. We’re looking to build successful within the freshman, jayvee, varsity teams, not individuals,” he added. “First and foremost is being able to pick out those players who aren’t “me-first “kind of guys. I’m looking for players who will be able to adapt and play different positions and do what’s best for the team. We obviously want each individual player to succeed but the team as a whole, that’s more important.”
Part of the respect Schick commands from his players is derived from the fact he was a high-level student-athlete him-self, both at Glen Rock High School and Western New England College.
In high school, Schick was a two-year All-League forward and outside midfielder in soccer and was the Panthers’ wrestling captain during his senior year. He also helped his track team win two state champions during his sophomore and junior years. A graduate from Glen Rock in 2005, Schick went on to attend Western New England University, which competes at the NCAA Division-III level. While playing soccer there, the Golden Bears earned multiple trips the NCAA Tournament over his four years and were a fixture in the NCAA Division-III national rankings. A 1989 graduate of Western New England, Schick majored in Psychology and a minored in Elementary Education, which led to his current job as a third grade teacher in the Ridgewood school district.
Schick is well aware of the big shoes he’s filling in replacing the legendary Nygren, who compiled nearly 500 career wins, including six Bergen County titles during his 13 seasons and two stints at Don Bosco (1997-2007,) (2021-2022.)
“I believe over the last few years under Roy’s leadership, some good plans have been put into place and that we’re definitely heading in the right direction,” Schick said.
