John Quinn, a member of the New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the current Athletic Director at Plainfield, will retire at the end of this school year after 36 years in public education.
Quinn retires as the only head football coach in New Jersey to ever win state championships in Groups 2,3,4 and 5. He also holds the rare distinction of coaching teams from 3 separate schools, Roxbury, New Brunswick and Elizabeth, to state titles.
Quinn’s accolades include over 20 different Coach of the Year Awards, and being Named to The US Army All-American Bowl Guest Staff twice. Quinn was named Coach of the Decade by The Home News Tribune and My Central Jersey for the 2000’s.
Among the top student athletes Quinn has mentored include 2x Super Bowl winner and New York Giant Captain Jonathan Casillas. Another star under Coach Quinn’s tutelage was NCAA National Champion, Rose Bowl MVP, and USC All-American Dwayne Jarrett.
Coach also aided in helping untold scores of student athletes obtain scholarships including over 24 that played in Bowl Games . Included on that prestigious list is US Army High School All American Brandon Smith of Michigan. Additionally Quinn assisted in the development of future NFL players and Temple University standouts, Star Ledger Player of the Year and Carolina Panther QB PJ Walker and his Temple teammate Jahad Thomas. Quinn’s coaching tree is also quite extensive having tutored 7 coaches that have gone onto win numerous state titles in football and track and field.
As the Athletic Director at Plainfield, Quinn led a resurgence in both women’s and men’s sports that led to a fantastic 12 Union County Division Titles in 5 years. Also included in that comeback feat is the crowning of Plainfield’s first New Jersey Meet of Champions winner in over 20 years, Celine-Jada Brown. Brown, who won the long jump at the M of C last June, was also named as a High School All-American and received a track scholarship to Rutgers.
Quinn’s career has been highlighted by not only winning at the highest level, but by a commitment to helping youth in under served communities achieve educationally and athletically.
