Dercos foster family atmosphere
By Joe Ragozzino
Sports editor
The East Orange Campus High School baseball and softball programs experienced a great revival this spring.
And much of that success can be attributed to the husband and wife team of Dave and Laurie Derco.
Dave is the head coach of the varsity baseball team that went 13-6-1, which included winning the first-year Super Essex Conference-Independence Division regular-season championship.
Laurie is the varsity softball head coach, guiding the Lady Jaguars to an 18-4 season that featured a second-place finish in the SEC-Independence Division behind Science Park.
Both teams also qualified for their respective NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 1, Group 4 tournaments.
These are quite impressive accomplishments, considering the programs have struggled for a long time.
Their success also has been recognized. The teams were among just three schools in seven counties that were honored for their sportsmanship at the New Jersey State Umpires Association annual dinner in Union.
“It was very nice for the umpires to recognize us,” said Dave. “That was a real nice honor.”
Married for four years, Dave and Laurie not only coach at EOCHS, but they also are algebra teachers at the school.
On the field, they are somewhat different when it comes to dealing with their players. He can be strict, whereas she is little bit more understanding and sensitive. But they both share the same philosophy.
“We share a lot of the same things: hard work, sportsmanship,” said Laurie. “He is more strict and hard core, and I am a little bit more ‘we work together.’ ”
Added Dave, “The main philosophy that we share is, you have to put in the work. Nothing bad comes from hard work; only good things come from hard work. The students have to be disciplined and they have to put in the time. They have to work and work hard. And it’s all about respect for the game. We have zero tolerance for disrespect for the game.”
Dave served as an assistant coach for the Jaguars for one year, while the team was struggling in the ultra-competitive Iron Hills Conference. He was considering quitting, as the losing began to take a toll. But when the head coaching position opened, Dave had a change of heart. Not only did he come back, but he took over the reins.
Dave recognized that rebuilding a baseball program at an inner city school was a tough challenge, especially at a time when there was barely a feeder system. But he was determined to make it happen.
And that entailed getting the right kids. Dave wanted players who were committed and had a passion for the game. He also wanted them to be excellent citizens off the field.
“We stuck with discipline,” said Dave. “We stuck with hard work and how hard work pays off. We focused on academics. We found the new kids and stuck with them for four years. You needed kids to stay in the system. I got a group of freshmen and stuck with them for four years.”
Dave also wanted the players’ families to play a big part in the program’s revival.
“I got to know their families and their families got involved,” he said of the players in that particular class. “I still keep in touch with them; they graduated two years ago. They still come to the games. I still keep in touch with them. The parents still come to the games. We really want to build a family-type atmosphere here. Every thing is a family thing. Whenever something is said, it is in front of the team. The kids really bought into that.”
Since Dave became head coach five years ago, the program has become popular. More than 60 players try out every year. In his second year, the program added a junior varsity team.
In 2009, Laurie took over the softball team after longtime coach Bill Norwood retired. Laurie, like Dave, wanted to help the program taste success, which it did this season.
Laurie and Dave have been able to get both their teams to become each other’s big supporters. In fact, the baseball players attended the softball team’s final game of the season in a show of support.
Laurie acknowledges that rebuilding the program hasn’t been particularly easy, but it certainly has been enjoyable.
“It’s been a challenge, I would say,” she said. “But it’s really fun. As a group, the girls always are supporting the boys, and the boys are always supporting the girls. It’s like a big family.”
A family nurtured by the Dercos.
Sports editor
The East Orange Campus High School baseball and softball programs experienced a great revival this spring.
And much of that success can be attributed to the husband and wife team of Dave and Laurie Derco.
Dave is the head coach of the varsity baseball team that went 13-6-1, which included winning the first-year Super Essex Conference-Independence Division regular-season championship.
Laurie is the varsity softball head coach, guiding the Lady Jaguars to an 18-4 season that featured a second-place finish in the SEC-Independence Division behind Science Park.
Both teams also qualified for their respective NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 1, Group 4 tournaments.
These are quite impressive accomplishments, considering the programs have struggled for a long time.
Their success also has been recognized. The teams were among just three schools in seven counties that were honored for their sportsmanship at the New Jersey State Umpires Association annual dinner in Union.
“It was very nice for the umpires to recognize us,” said Dave. “That was a real nice honor.”
Married for four years, Dave and Laurie not only coach at EOCHS, but they also are algebra teachers at the school.
On the field, they are somewhat different when it comes to dealing with their players. He can be strict, whereas she is little bit more understanding and sensitive. But they both share the same philosophy.
“We share a lot of the same things: hard work, sportsmanship,” said Laurie. “He is more strict and hard core, and I am a little bit more ‘we work together.’ ”
Added Dave, “The main philosophy that we share is, you have to put in the work. Nothing bad comes from hard work; only good things come from hard work. The students have to be disciplined and they have to put in the time. They have to work and work hard. And it’s all about respect for the game. We have zero tolerance for disrespect for the game.”
Dave served as an assistant coach for the Jaguars for one year, while the team was struggling in the ultra-competitive Iron Hills Conference. He was considering quitting, as the losing began to take a toll. But when the head coaching position opened, Dave had a change of heart. Not only did he come back, but he took over the reins.
Dave recognized that rebuilding a baseball program at an inner city school was a tough challenge, especially at a time when there was barely a feeder system. But he was determined to make it happen.
And that entailed getting the right kids. Dave wanted players who were committed and had a passion for the game. He also wanted them to be excellent citizens off the field.
“We stuck with discipline,” said Dave. “We stuck with hard work and how hard work pays off. We focused on academics. We found the new kids and stuck with them for four years. You needed kids to stay in the system. I got a group of freshmen and stuck with them for four years.”
Dave also wanted the players’ families to play a big part in the program’s revival.
“I got to know their families and their families got involved,” he said of the players in that particular class. “I still keep in touch with them; they graduated two years ago. They still come to the games. I still keep in touch with them. The parents still come to the games. We really want to build a family-type atmosphere here. Every thing is a family thing. Whenever something is said, it is in front of the team. The kids really bought into that.”
Since Dave became head coach five years ago, the program has become popular. More than 60 players try out every year. In his second year, the program added a junior varsity team.
In 2009, Laurie took over the softball team after longtime coach Bill Norwood retired. Laurie, like Dave, wanted to help the program taste success, which it did this season.
Laurie and Dave have been able to get both their teams to become each other’s big supporters. In fact, the baseball players attended the softball team’s final game of the season in a show of support.
Laurie acknowledges that rebuilding the program hasn’t been particularly easy, but it certainly has been enjoyable.
“It’s been a challenge, I would say,” she said. “But it’s really fun. As a group, the girls always are supporting the boys, and the boys are always supporting the girls. It’s like a big family.”
A family nurtured by the Dercos.
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