THE FINAL WORD THE HAMMONTONIAN | OCTOBER 2023 | P . 23
by Dan Russoman
Well known around southern New Jersey for its passion for football , Hammonton is fortunate to have not only one , but two of the best young high school coaches in the region .
Jim Raso took over the program at Hammonton High School in 2015 and since posting a 9-2 record that season , has led the Blue Devils to the playoffs six times and winning the 2019 Central Jersey Group 4 title .
Across town at St . Joseph Academy , Ron Dorsey is nearing the end of his first season leading the Wildcats , having taken over for longtime head coach Paul Sacco this year .
Both coaches are Hammonton graduates , and they each played for legendary Blue Devils head coach Pete Lancetta . Both Raso and Dorsey were members of Hammonton ’ s 1994 South Jersey Group 2 championship team .
The Gazette asked each coach a few questions . What do you do to relax ? Jim Raso ( JR )— Believe it or not , I actually relax by watching football . Whether it ’ s watching film [ of Hammonton games ] or
JIM RASO
Jim Raso
having some time on Saturday to watch some college games and then on Sunday when the Eagles play , I like to watch the Eagles .
Ron Dorsey ( RD )— It ’ s changed . Before , I was a big video game person , but now , what I do to relax , I love watching college football all day Saturdays . That ’ s my thing . College football and watching my daughter play travel softball .
What ’ s your favorite sport
other than football ?
JR — I don ’ t have one believe it or not . One I actually do like to watch is college basketball . I ’ m actually a big Duke Blue Devils fan .
RD — Baseball and softball . Really now , it ’ s softball . I was a big baseball guy , but ever since my daughter started playing softball , it ’ s been softball . I love the game . I watch it on TV , the college World Series .
What ’ s your favorite thing to do with family ?
JR — Just spend quality time . It ’ s limited , believe me . It might be something simple like going to the movies or just get something to eat , if it ’ s just the four of us , it ’ s always a good day .
RON DORSEY
Ron Dorsey
RD — With my kids , it ’ s just going outside and playing . Playing with my daughter , playing with my son . Just love being around my family , doing daddy things .
What ’ s the best vacation you ’ ve ever had ?
JR — We did a trip , we went down to Mexico a couple of years ago and it wound up being a really good trip , an allinclusive resort and it had a lot of things for the kids to do and it was very relaxing being down there .
RD — The best vacation we had as a family was when went to Ocean City , Maryland . We went there as a family and it was a blast .
If you could change something about yourself , what would it be ?
JR — That ’ s a loaded question right there . We can all be better in anything that we ’ re doing and in terms of coaching and in being a parent and just being a better person overall .
RD — Nothing really . I wish I was a little taller . Would have been 6-5 dunking .
What ’ s the best advice you ’ ve ever receive ?
JR — Best advice , I would probably have to say in terms of decision-making , realize that your decisions will have an impact on not only you , but also on other people as well .
RD — Stay true to yourself . Stay true to yourself and another one , my grandmom used to tell me when I was younger , I think it ’ s from Bambi , “ If you can ’ t say something nice , don ’ t say anything at all .”
What ’ s the last book you read ?
JR-The Junction Boys . It ’ s been a little while since I ’ ve been able to sit down and read a whole book . In terms of reading , I like to read a lot of books about coaching . Urban Meyer ’ s book I read not that long ago .
RD — Last book I read was one [ St . Joseph Academy Head of School / President ] Mr . [ Stephen ] Cappuccio gave me and I can ’ t remember the name of it .
Who ’ s the best player you played against ?
JR — Hands down was probably Gary Fauntleroy in that championship game . You think you take a lot of pride in hitting guys and I remember hitting him , it was like hitting into a brick wall .
RD — It was a guy we played from Kingsway named Gary Fauntleroy . He was a running back and maybe the best athlete I ’ ve seen in person . He was phenomenal .
What ’ s the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you on the field ?
JR — Probably trying to tackle Gary Fauntleroy .
RD — I remember my sophomore year , we ’ re playing the Prep and coach gave me the ball and I ’ m trying to reach over the goal line and I fumbled and we lost the game . And I remember laying on the field upset . And then on Monday , when we watched the film , Coach laid into me to never , ever lay down and sulk .
If you weren ’ t coaching , what job would you have ?
JR — I ’ d probably have a lot more time on my hands . Probably try to get into golf a little more . Maybe being able to hunt a little more .
RD — Probably be around my family more , doing more family stuff . I ’ d probably still be working with kids . I ’ m a big behavior guy , I work in special ed and I ’ d probably be doing that a lot more than I ’ m doing now .
Who was your role model growing up and what was the biggest lesson you learned from that person ?
JR — I would probably say Coach Pete [ Lancetta ]. Growing up he was there for me as a kid and getting into my young adult life and I learned a lot of valuable lessons from him .
RD — My dad . He was my biggest role model and I learned about hard work from him . My dad . He worked his butt off all day and was still able to come every day and watch me practice and every game I played . I remember him coming on the practice field and he still had his work boots on and his work clothes and that ’ s something I ’ ll never forget . The dedication that he had for his family . What makes you laugh ? JR — I like to sit down and watch comedy movies for a good laugh . Not off-the-wall things , but something that ’ s funny .
RD — I love comedy movies and all that . I love watching Kevin Hart and Eddie Murphy , Eddie Murphy is my guy . Any of his movies I love watching .
What ’ s your go-to pregame meal ?
JR — Usually it ’ s with the kids , so it ’ s some kind of pasta .
RD — It ’ s changed . When I was playing , it was grilled chicken . Now , it ’ s pretty much anything I can get my hands on .
How about something you just won ’ t eat ?
JR — I ’ m not a bean guy , any kind of beans . Lima beans , I ’ m not a bean guy .
RD — I ’ m going to get in trouble for this one — pig ’ s feet . I will not touch pig ’ s feet . I will not eat it . It was big in my family , but I ’ m not eating that .
What ’ s something most people don ’ t know about you ?
JR — How much this program and this town means to me . I spend more time here than with my family , and anything that happens here affects how the rest of my day , the rest of my month goes .
RD — I think a lot of people don ’ t know this , but I ’ m a big WWE wrestling fan . Coach [ Craig ] Muckle and I talk about it all the time . A lot of people don ’ t believe it .