By: Greg Mattura / Record Sports Department
Eddie Rendzio cherished coaching in his home town and he’ll enjoy that opportunity again after being hired as the new boys basketball coach at Waldwick.
The Waldwick resident was approved late Monday by the Board of Education, after he spent the previous 18 seasons coaching in his former hometown and at his alma mater, Wood-Ridge.
“He’s had tremendous success at a Group 1 program,” Waldwick athletic director Mike Mayer said Tuesday, “and so he’s the guy.”
Speaking of success at a Group 1 program, Cresskill promoted 2007 graduate Dan Egorow to lead its high-profile boys hoops program.
“It’s an honor and a privilege, but it comes with some high expectations, some lofty goals,” Egorow said.
Rendzio called it a “hard, hard decision” to leave Wood-Ridge after 18 seasons. His uptempo style was a hit and he posted a record of 331-142, won six league titles and one sectional crown.
Rendzio has lived in Waldwick for six years, after spending the previous decade in Wood-Ridge. Commuting to Wood-Ridge, where he graduated from in 1987, was curtailing the time spent with his son, Alex, 5.
“Family was a big part in making my decision,” said Rendzio, 48, who teaches elementary school social studies in Wallington. He explained, “It was the opportunity to get home after school and see him, and then get to practice and work with the kids in town. I’m hoping this will be my last stop. I’m here for the long haul.”
Rendzio replaces Mike McQuade and takes over a team that graduates several key players from a roster that last season was 6-19. Rendzio will bring his uptempo philosophy to Waldwick.
“We’re not going to try to change much from what we had at Wood-Ridge,” Rendzio said. “We’re going to try and go up and down.”
Egorow spent the previous two seasons at Cresskill as an assistant under Mike Doto, who left his alma mater to become coach at Paramus Catholic. Egorow also was approved Monday by his Board of Education.
“I know him from when he was a student-athlete here, and you can see the maturity and how much he’s grown and developed,” said Cresskill athletic director Beth Del Vecchio. “And I’m just very impressed with him in that respect, and how I really feel that he’s ready for the position.”
Cresskill is Bergen County’s most successful Group 1 program this decade. Doto won 193 games and three sectional titles over nine seasons. Last season, Cresskill was 21-8 and a sectional runner-up.
“Cresskill has a winning tradition, a winning culture,” said Egorow, 28. “People expect a lot. We return a lot of guys this year, so the expectations are high, and they always are. We always want to compete for league titles, we want to always be in the mix during the state tournament, and that doesn’t change with the new coaching staff coming in.”
