LINDEN, NJ — Since 1985, Linden High School has had just four head coaches, one of them, Joe Stinson, for just one year in 2007. Bucky McDonald succeeded Joe Martino at the helm in 1985 and his final season was 2006. McDonald led Linden to its first sectional state championship in the playoff era when the Tigers won North 2, Group 3 in his first year in 1985.
The 1986 squad was an awesome team as well, finishing 9-1 and losing only to Summit in the North 2, Group 3 semifinals.
Then, after the one season Stinson served, Linden was led by Deon Candia from 2008 to 2014. It was in Candia’s last season in 2014 that he guided Linden to its second state crown in the playoff era when the Tigers captured North 2, Group 5 by beating arch rival Elizabeth High School, 27-20, in that season’s championship game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.
Promoted from assistant 10 years ago was Al Chiola, who, after 10 seasons, stepped down so that he could see his son, Tyler, play during this, his senior season at Colonia High School.
Although Chiola did not lead Linden to a state championship as McDonald and Candia did, he did a solid job, guiding the Tigers to five playoff seasons and a consolation trophy in 2022 with consolation wins at home against Barringer High School and at Bergen County’s Bergenfield High School. His final record was 44-47-1.
Seeking to guide Linden to a third straight playoff season is a coach who has been around, to say the least.
Mark Ciccotelli, 60, was named as Linden’s new head coach in May. This is the seventh head coach position for the 1983 Arthur L. Johnson Regional High School graduate, including stints at Rahway, Freehold Boro, Neptune, St. John Vianney, North Plainfield and Scotch Plains–Fanwood high schools. Older brother Steve coached for 21 years, before retiring in 2011, after being the head coach at Arthur L. Johnson Regional and Scotch Plains–Fanwood. Older brother Mike was the head coach at Keyport High School for 36 years, before retiring in 2013.
Mark Ciccotelli was also an assistant coach at Cranford High School twice, including running the offense in 2015, when the Cougars went 11-0 to capture their third North 2, Group 3 sectional state championship, and at his alma mater Arthut L. Johnson.
Ciccotelli was also offensive coordinator at Middletown South High School in 2001, when it went undefeated and captured the Central Jersey, Group 3 crown. Other assistant coaching stops included Mater Dei High School in 2019, after his two seasons as head coach at Scotch Plains–Fanwood in 2017 and 2018; at St. Joseph, Metuchen and Arthur L. Johnson high schools in 2023, when the Crusaders finished 6-3.
Back with longtime friend and Arthur L. Johnson teammate Erik Rosenmeier at Cranford last year, Ciccotelli helped the Cougars improve to 7-3, after a rare less than .500 finish of 4-5 with Rosenmeier in 2023.
Ciccotelli’s biggest successes as a head coach came in 2008 and 2010 at Freehold Boro, when he guided the Colonials to Central Jersey, Group 3 titles. The 2008 squad went 11-1 and the 2010 team finished 10-2, winning its last 10.
Ciccotelli also led Neptune to the 2011 Central Jersey, Group 3 crown. The Scarlet Fliers went 11-1, winning their final 10 games. Their only loss was in double overtime.
Although Ciccotelli was unable to attend the Big Central Conference’s Media Day on Thursday, Aug. 7, assistant coach Donald Zsak spoke highly of him.
“We’re happy to have Mark,” said Zsak, who played at Linden and is now back as an assistant coach. “Mark didn’t get hired until May, so we’re a little behind. We do have a good group of kids.”
Linden rebounded from a 1-4 start last year that included two losses by just one touchdown to win three in a row and qualify for the state playoffs out of North, Group 5. In North 1, Group 5 action at West Orange High School, the Tigers were defeated, 28-21, to finish 4-6.
“We have great kids, a strong group and I’m not worried about anything this season,” said returning senior linebacker Josh Williams.
“We have speed, are athletic and have young guys that want to win as much as we do,” said senior two-way lineman Daryl Agyei (6-0, 250), who wears No. 55.
For the third year in a row, Linden will open with Elizabeth, this time at home at Cooper Field on Friday, Aug. 29. In 2023, at Kean University’s Alumni Stadium in Union, it was Linden who prevailed by the score of 27-22. In 2024, at Elizabeth’s Williams Field, it was the host Minutemen coming out on top 35-28.
“We’re excited to get going,” Zsak said.
Linden will be the epitome of Friday night lights this year. All nine regular-season games are scheduled to be played on consecutive Friday nights.
Linden Tigers 2025
Friday, Aug. 29, Elizabeth, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 5, at Sayreville War Memorial, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 12, at Colonia, 6 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 19, Watchung Hills Regional, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 26, Woodbridge, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 3, at Montgomery, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 10, Perth Amboy, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 17, at Carteret, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 24, Plainfield, 7 p.m.
Photo by JR Parachini
