After 37 productive years, Tony deserves a break. But the sport he has loved for so long will miss him.
Someone will be missing Sept. 9 when the Kingsway Regional High School football team opens its season at Williamstown in a battle of West Jersey Football League Group 5s.
The Dragon coach, Tony Barchuk.
After 37 years as Kingsway head football coach, Barchuk notified school officials last week the 2015 season was his last after achieving 206 career victories and a great deal of professional respect. His 2001 team recorded one of the most important wins in school history, defeating Hammonton for the NJSIAA state Group II title.
Barchuk will return as head girls' softball coach this spring. He coached Kingsway to a state softball championship in 2008 and a spot in the finals in 2012.
With his 37 years, the likeable Barchuk has seniority status as a head football coach in this region. Florence coach Joe Frappolli has 42 years, most in South Jersey.
Barchuk, one of the few coaches in the area to serve as head coach for two major sports, will also step down as softball coach and physical education instructor this June. He was a year-round coach, also assisting with girls' basketball.
I've known Barchuk since he arrived as Kingsway football coach in 1979. We formed a friendship through my work as a Channel 5 sportscaster. I probably announced a dozen or more Dragon games he coached over the years, including many memorable victories.
As a sports journalist, I found him to be a willing interview subject and source, eternally upbeat and candid, win or lose. On off nights, Tony never hid from the press. He was consistently up front with them.
Barchuk was a fixture at Kingsway, supporting other sports as well as the teams he coached. It made him popular with fellow coaches, the student body and faculty-staff. He achieved a high level of popularity and credibility.
Tony's booming voice, well-suited for the high school athlete, will be missed.
After 37 productive years, Tony deserves a break. But the sport he has loved for so long will miss him.
And so will I.
Bob Shryock may be reached at bshryock@njadvancemedia.com. Follow South Jersey Times on Twitter @TheSJTimes. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.