Lead / Create / Contribute
235 Hope Road, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724  /  732.542.4777

More Stories

List of 10 news stories.

Coach Moriau Celebrates 400 Career Wins!

On February 14, Ranney School students, parents, alumni, faculty and administration all gathered in the school’s Gerhard Pavilion for Athletics (GPA) to cheer on the Varsity Girls’ Basketball team and celebrate Head Coach and Director of Athletics Tom Moriau’s 400th win. The team played with heart against Academy for Allied Health, finishing the game with a 28-8 victory. As the final buzzer sounded, the team crowded around Coach Moriau (Toms River), smiling and cheering for their beloved coach, who this year celebrates his 25th year of service to Ranney School. The audience flooded the court as Coach Moriau was joined by his wife Londa, son JT, and longtime friend Mary Klinger along with Head of School Dr. Lawrence S. Sykoff and members of the Athletic Department. Coach Moriau’s daughter, Jena (Class of 2008), received updates from her family by telephone and supported her father and former coach from out of state.

As Coach Moriau was surrounded by balloons and posters made by the team, Dr. Sykoff spoke to the crowd about Mr. Moriau’s everlasting impression on the school and presented him with a trophy highlighting his latest achievement. He was then joined by Ian McNamara, Physical Education and Lower School Activities Coordinator, to unveil a new banner that will be hung proudly on the walls of the GPA, honoring Mr. Moriau for his 400 wins. “Coach Moriau is a portrait of coaching passion. He loves to coach and his enthusiasm for the game is major league. Great coaches are teachers at heart,” said Dr. Sykoff. “They know, almost intuitively, how to spot the teachable moment, and they use that moment to inspire their players.”

Ranney School’s athletic program envisions athletics as an equal part of academic life and the school’s mission. The Athletic Department strives for excellence by creating an environment that unites academic excellence with achievement in athletic competition, sportsmanship, commitment and dedication. These beliefs and the growth of Panther athletics would not be possible without Coach Moriau’s enthusiasm and commitment to a well-rounded athletic program.

During the past 25 years, he has been a leader, coach, mentor and friend to all who have entered the Ranney campus, and also serves as Director of Ranney School’s Summer Camp. His passion for coaching is evident. Whether it is on the basketball court cheering on the Varsity Girls’ team or on the field supporting the Varsity Girls’ Softball team, he always puts his players and Ranney students first, providing them with the highest quality athletic experience. Mr. Moriau provides young athletes with the developmental skills they need to play, and then builds on those skills year after year to prepare them for the highest levels of competition.

After Ranney joined the Patriot Conference in the early 1990s, Coach Moriau began to guide the athletic program in a new direction. Just one year after coaching the Varsity Girls’ Basketball team to its 2005 New Jersey Patriot Conference Championship, Being named “Prep Coach of the Year” and being awarded the Lawrence S. Sykoff Faculty Fellowship Award, Coach Moriau was honored on Jan. 10, 2006, for his 300th win. In 2008, Ranney took another big step as the school became a Dual Member by joining the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA). In the spring of 2011, shortly after establishing the “21st Century Vision for the Ranney Scholar-Athlete,” which stresses the equal importance of balancing school and sport to create the well-rounded scholar-athlete, Ranney proudly announced its selection into the highly competitive Shore Conference.

Thus far, the Panthers have experienced success in the conference, including the Varsity Girls’ Tennis team bringing home the first ever Shore Conference title, the Varsity Girls’ Basketball team winning the Panther Classic Tournament for the fifth year in a row, several teams making playoffs and scholar-athletes rewriting the record books. Now in 2013, Coach Moriau has accomplished another milestone—400 wins. “Four-hundred career wins is not luck,” said Dr. Sykoff after the game. “Such sustained success is rare. Coach Moriau is one of those great, rare coaches—his impact from chalk talks to the first seat on the bench will be remembered forever.”

In honor of Coach Moriau’s endless support, members of the Athletic Department and coaching staff reflected on his coaching, the transformation of the athletic program and his natural ability to inspire. Below are a few comments.

“Coach Moriau is the epitome of all that is good in coaching. He shares a passion for his trade with every athlete that he comes into contact with. His love for what he does and the athletes that he coaches could not be more evident every time he steps onto the court. He is a team player like no other and I could not think of a more deserving coach to reach this milestone.”

-Ian McNamara, Head Coach- Varsity Girls’ Soccer, Varsity Golf, Middle School Boys’ Basketball, Assistant Coach-Varsity Boys’ Basketball

“Coach Moriau is the quintessential high school coach. During my four years working with Coach Moriau, I have come to quickly appreciate how much he cares about his players, both on and off the court or field. His proverbial ‘no problem’ attitude sets a guiding tone and the players believe that they can do more and become more because he believes in them. A mentor of mine once said that when you lose, say little, and when you win, say less. This is Coach Moriau. I wish him 400 more wins, but most importantly, I hope that he remains coaching and mentoring high school athletes for years to come.”

-Joe Tweed, Head Coach-Varsity Boys’ Lacrosse

“Coach Moriau has been an extremely supportive Director of Athletics, ensuring that our Ranney running program (cross country, winter track, spring track & field, marathon training) has everything it needs to be competitive. He was instrumental in getting a new track and field created on campus and pushed for student athletic summer camps as well as student running-focused trips. He has also been keenly aware of coaching needs and provided all he could to our teams.”

- Noel Delgado, Upper School Dean of Students, Former Coach- Varsity Track & Field, Spring and Winter, Varsity Cross Country

“Having the opportunity to be Coach Moriau’s assistant over the past five years has really taught me a lot. We joined the Shore Conference this year and I think we were both a little nervous about the competition. Coach Moriau prepared the team so well and when he jumped in the air as the final buzzer went off, his face and his actions showed the girls how proud he was of them. He really adores the players he coaches. We finished the season with a tie for third in the division.”

-Christine Repoli, Head Coach-Varsity Crew, Assistant Coach-Varsity Girls’ Basketball

“I enjoyed coaching basketball with Coach Moriau for six years. Over that time, we shared so many great memories. I was fortunate to be a part of his 300th win in 2006 and have now witnessed this next milestone in his coaching career, 400 wins. Congratulations, Coach Moriau, on your newest achievement and for all of your hard work throughout your years at Ranney!”

-Anna Lazic, Assistant Coach- Middle School Girls’ and Boys’ Tennis

“Coach Moriau has coached both softball and basketball over the past 25 years at Ranney School. However, it is no secret that basketball is his number one passion. If you have ever watched him coach, his love of the sport and his desire for his players to be successful is evident every time he steps onto the court. Coach Moriau’s love of the game and competitive attitude has resulted in numerous successes during his tenure. Aside from the accolades, he truly cares about his players. I cannot tell you how many times I have witnessed him encouraging and caring for his athletes, congratulating them on their efforts and lifting them up when they are feeling down. Congratulations Coach Moriau on your 400th win!”

-Barbara Bongiovanni, Head Coach- Middle School Girls’ and Boys’ Tennis
Back

Ranney School

235 Hope Road
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Tel. 732.542.4777
Our mission is to know and value every child, nurturing intellectual curiosity and confidence, and inspiring students to lead honorably, think creatively, and contribute meaningfully to society. 

We envision Ranney School as a nurturing learning community, in which families, faculty, alumni, and all of Ranney’s constituents collaborate to know and value every child, foster individual talents, sustain powerful connections between children and adults, and graduate resilient, globally-minded citizens.