Bogota coach Jay Mahoney is retiring after 43 years and more than 700 wins with the Group 1 program.
The veteran coach announced the decision three weeks after winning his 700th career game. Mahoney will continue to be at practices until the end of the year, but Trey Gomez will act as the head coach during games and will be assisted by Sean Gaffney. The Record/NorthJersey.com first reported the news.
“After 43 years I have given everything I have and I have nothing left in the tank,” Mahoney wrote in an email sent to Bogota superintendent Damian Kennedy, citing anxiety as the reason why he won’t be coaching the final games of the season. Mahoney and Kennedy confirmed the news on Friday.
“I just knew it was time,” Mahoney said. “I talked to our principal, athletic director and superintendent and they wanted me to coach, but I said guys, ‘I can’t. It’s time.’ It got the best of me and I realized it was time to retire. I told the kids yesterday and it was a rough one for me, but I sat them down and explained to them that I suffer from anxiety and used it as a life lesson. I just wanted to be honest with them.”
Mahoney became the 14th coach in state history to reach 700 wins when the Bucs beat Palisades Park back on Jan. 27. He’s just the second coach in Bergen County history to hit that mark. That successful career began all the way back in 1979, when Mahoney took over at the small-town school.
A decade later, Mahoney led Bogota to a state title and an appearance in the Tournament of Champions. He also guided Bogota to Bergen County Jamboree titles in 1990 and 1993. His energetic and intense style of coaching made Mahoney a living legend over the course of the last four decades.
Mahoney finishes his career with 702 wins – every single one of which came at Bogota.
“It’s been fantastic to have him here at Bogota,” said Kennedy. “I’ve seen him work with the kids to get them motivated to play and to care about playing. He got his players to put the effort in each day. You walk into one of his practices and the attention to detail was second to none. It was truly amazing to see.”
Mahoney secured his 700th win in a game against Palisades Park at home on a court that is named after the legendary coach. It was a great atmosphere, with former players and coaches there to share the moment with Mahoney and his team. The next night, senior Evan Meberg went off for 50 points, including the 1,000th of his career. It was a rollercoaster of emotions over the course of 48 hours
Mahoney continued to coach, but decided this week, that it was time to call it a career.
“That was one of the more special nights that I have had at Bogota,” Mahoney said of his 700th win. “Then, Evan Meberg goes out and gets 50 points the next day. At that point, I kind of wished the season was over because you get a million texts and you want to answer them all and enjoy it, but you’re still coaching. Those two nights back to back were the peak. Then, it just wears on you. You have that emotional high and then you’re just back to coaching. It just got the best of me. I really realized then that it was time to retire.
“I put my entire life into that school and it was nothing but great memories. I just know it’s time.
Brandon Gould can be reached at bgould@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrandonGouldHS.
