Darnell Tyler will be Long Branch‘s new head coach for the boys basketball program. His hiring was approved at the August 26 Board of Education meeting, reports Shore Sports Network.
Tyler will be taking over a program that was starkly different when he was a standout player in the late 1990s.
Under Coach Donald Covin’s tutelage, the 6-foot-9 Tyler helped the Green Wave capture back-to-back NJSIAA Group championships in 1997 (Group II) and 1998 (Group III), as well as the Shore Conference Tournament title in 1997. Tyler went on to play Division I at Manhattan College.
Long Branch has been unable to attain similiar success since Coach Covin’s power team but the Jersey Shore team has fielded competitive teams and boasted standout some individual talent. Last season, however, the Green Wave ended the season with a 1-21 record, leaving Tyler with a significant rebuilding project on his hands.
Tyler previously coached sub-varsity at Long Branch and recreation.
Long Branch’s Athletic Director Jason Corley said he chose Tyler not only because of his standing in the Long Branch community but because of his willingness to take on that challenge.
“Last year was one of the worst years in the history of Long Branch boys basketball but Darnell has been part of some of the best years the program has ever had,” Corley said. “He is an icon in the community and not only do I think he is going to help heal the program but I think he is going to inspire more kids to participate in basketball and play when they get to high school. It has been a while since Long Branch was producing Division I basketball talent and I really believe we can get back to that with Darnell leading the program.”
