Craig D'Amico

Head Coach (Monmouth, 2007): 2nd Season (23-16)

Already ranked as the fourth winningest coach in Johnson Tennis history, head coach Craig D’Amico returns for his second season at the helm of the Crusaders boys’ tennis program.

D’Amico, who enters his ninth year with the program, finished 12-7 in his initial campaign as head coach after four years as a player, and three years as a top assistant coach.

At only 22 years of age, D’Amico continues as the youngest head coach in the history of the program and the youngest serving head coach in Union County. He is also the first former Johnson Tennis player to return at the helm.

In 2006, the 41st season of Johnson Tennis, Johnson finished with a 12-7 record and a third place finish in the Mountain Valley Conference’s Mountain Division. It marked the most victories, and the best conference finish for the Blue and White since the 2003 season.

D’Amico led the Crusaders to many new highs for either the first time or the first time in a long time. Johnson recorded an eighth place team finish in the 2007 Union County Tournament, qualified for their eighth straight NJSIAA State Team Tournament, had a doubles team qualify for the State Doubles Tournament, and saw every starter at least double their career win total.

A former Johnson Tennis four year letterwinner, D’Amico became only the third head coach in Johnson history to have a winning record in his first season as coach, behind Ralph Johnson and Chris Raguseo.

Upon the conclusion of the tennis season, The Star Ledger named D’Amico the 2007 Union County Coach of the Year in their June 22nd tennis awards issue. It was the first award given to a Johnson coach since Ralph Johnson took home the Coach of the Year award at the 2003 Union County Tournament.

D’Amico enjoyed a stellar four year playing career in a Johnson Tennis uniform from 2000 – 2003. He was a four year varsity letter winner, former team captain, the 2003 team Most Valuable Player award winner, and was a part of two Mountain Valley Conference championship squads.

As a freshman, D’Amico compiled a 2-2 record, playing second doubles with partner Mike Perez. The pair also competed in the 2000 Union County Tournament. His senior season proved to be a breakout season, going 3-1 in 2003, finishing his playing career with a 5-6 overall record. D’Amico played with four different doubles partners, including a win with longtime partner Luke Swantek on Senior Day 2003 against Rahway at first doubles.

Following his playing career, D’Amico returned to the program as a manager in 2004 under Chris Raguseo, and then was promoted to a top assistant coach role under Michele Zaleski in 2005. In the fall of 2006, D’Amico took over as the girls’ tennis head coach for Kumpf Middle School. As an assistant coach, D’Amico played a part in coaching three Crusaders into the NCAA college tennis ranks, Mike Klimchak (TCNJ), Mike Monagle (Princeton JV), and Alex D’Amico (Rider).

On December 19, 2006, D’Amico was thrust into the driver’s seat of the Johnson Tennis program, being named as the head coach by athletic director Carl Peterson and the Clark Board of Education.

The Clark, New Jersey native graduated from Arthur L. Johnson High School in 2003, and graduated from Monmouth University in 2007 with a degree in Communication. He is currently working on completing his masters degree in Elementary Education. D’Amico resides in Clark and works at the Frank K Hehnly Elementary School.