Fulton as new head coach not the only change in store for West Essex football team

By Mike Kinney | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com When Dan Fulton played for Parsippany Hills some 20 years ago, the two-way lineman was left with the impression that his team’s annual game against West Essex lasted far beyond four quarters. “You knew when you played West Essex, you were leaving with sore shoulders. You were getting Buck sweep and power into the C gap 40 times a game,” Fulton said. “They were going to test your strength and conditioning program; they were going to test your mental toughness, your physical toughness. You always knew that going into West Essex.” Fulton saw that same level of grit last October when his Hanover Park team had a six-game winning streak snapped by the Knights, 22-21, in their clash for the Cosmo D. Cardone Memorial Trophy. The two Super Football Conference rivals will play again in Week 7 this coming fall, and it will be Fulton’s hope that West Essex will be just as tough as ever. Maybe twice as tough. That’s because Fulton will be the one coaching the Knights. The 37-year-old was approved as the school’s new football coach at Monday night’s West Essex Regional Board of Education meeting. Fulton replaces Chris Benacquista, who left the Knights after 14 seasons to take the head coaching job at Wayne Valley March 6. Fulton was 30-26 in seven seasons at Hanover Park, guiding last season’s Hornets to a 10-2 mark and the North 2, Group 2 championship. He stepped down last week and met with the HP team last Thursday. “Coach Fulton brings passion, high football IQ, a history of success, and a student-first mentality that aligns perfectly with the values of our athletic program,” West Essex athletic director Timothy Walsh said in a prepared statement. “A true leader, Coach Fulton is committed to continuing a culture of excellence, discipline, and integrity—both on and off the football field. His leadership will not only strengthen our football program, but also positively impact our school and community as a whole as we move into a new era," Walsh said. “While he may be introducing a new approach on the field, he will be keeping many of the West Essex traditions we all know and love.” Let’s talk about that “new approach” for a moment and then circle back to the tough-as-nails reputation that also happens to be a Hanover Park trait. Fulton will be breaking a long-coveted Wing-T tradition at West Essex by introducing a quicker, snappier offensive scheme. And he’s banking on the conviction that the new look will not diminish one bit of the West Essex toughness. “I don’t want any of that to change. I want to keep that the same,” Fulton said. “I’ve coached Wing-T stuff before, but I’m not a Wing-T guy, I’m an up-tempo RPO (run-pass option)-based spread guy, and that’s what I’m planning to bring there. “But we’re gonna go as far as our kids will let us take it,” he said. “And if we have to kind of go backwards, we will. But they’re a smart group, and, you know, Chris has spread the ball out a lot the past couple of years. I don’t think it’s gonna be total culture shock.” Tough, as a we said, is a Hanover Park trademark, as well, and the Hornets flourished with that up-tempo style in recent years. They have compiled a 33-16 record since 2020. “We had two kids on the field this year over 200 pounds, and I thought this was probably the physically and mentally toughest group of kids I’ve ever had,” Fulton said of last autumn’s group. “Yes, they were great athletes. They’re good kids, they’re smart kids, they’re tough. My three Joeys - Tantawi, Borrello, Filippone - they’re all wrestler, they’re all scrappy little dudes, but I wouldn’t want to fight any of them. They’d kick my butt right now and I’ve got 100 pounds on them.” In that West Essex-Hanover Park battle last October 25, the Hornets passed for 261 yards and all three of their touchdowns, while West Essex junior Jake Long hit on 9-of-13 passes for 131 yards and no TDs. Brady Phillips rushed for two touchdowns and Nick Sangillo the other. Phillips, Sangillo, All-State safety Anthony Drago and veteran linemen Mikey Cerisano, Joe Russo and Michael Conforti are among the West Essex stars from that 8-3 team that won’t be back. But among the returnees are Long at QB, sophomore running back Michael Lozito, junior running back Ryan McInerny and junior wide receiver Justin Perini. They just might have some fun running Fulton’s RPO stuff. “These kids are very good athletes. They’re smart kids. I think they’ll pick it up well,” Fulton said. “And I have some great assistant coaches that I’m going to try to bring with me. I think they do a great job teaching. We’re going to go with what I know, but we’re not afraid to adapt and change and do what’s gonna put the kids in the best spot,” he said. Fulton does not know who will replace him at Hanover Park, though he did leave athletic director Michael Menditto with one request. “The one thing I said to my AD was, ‘It’s none of my business, but just find somebody who’s going to take care of my boys,’ ” Fulton said. “I feel Chris feels the same way. He does not want his program to go to someone who’s not going to treat his kids the way he would treat them. That’s probably the biggest pressure I have - living up to his expectations.” Benacquista left West Essex as the program’s winningest coach at 116-37. In fact, he set the record at 114 in that 22-21 victory over Hanover Park. The Hornets won the next four games en route to the sectional title, but lost a 7-6 heartbreaker to Newark Shabazz in the Group 2 semifinals. Just as Benacquista had done last month, Fulton last Thursday tackled one of the toughest jobs a coach ever undertakes in a career - telling his players he’s leaving them. “It was one of the worst things I’ve ever had to do. Saying goodbye to those kids was miserable,” he said. “And the worst part was I was hoping that they would call me a jerk and yell at me and, like, beat me up or something. But every one of those kids shook my hand and said, ‘Coach, congratulations and good luck, and you know, we’re gonna kick your ass Week Seven. “They were so respectful,” Fulton said. “I’ve been getting messages from parents and players thanking me and saying how big of an influence I was. I hate hearing that. I wish they were mad at me. I wish they were being mean to me.”

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
West Essex Regional High School Athletics

FULTON AS NEW HEAD COACH NOT THE ONLY CHANGE IN STORE FOR WEST ESSEX FOOTBALL TEAM

MIKE KINNEY

nj.com | 4/8/2025