John Allen- St.Benedict's & Seton Hall Prep
John Allen was a three sport athlete at St. Benedict's Prep before accepting a Baseball Scholarship for baseball to Seton Hall University. During John's Sophomore year at the Hall he took on the duties of assistant football & wrestling coach at his alma mater. In three years John led St. Benedict's to it's first NJ State Prep School Championship which they won 6 out of the next 7 years capped off in 1962 with a National Prep Championship. Fom 1959-1962 they won 40 straight matches against all competition. The 1961-62 team had National Prep or NJ AAU Champions in seven weights. John coached 30 Prep State Champions and seven National Prep Champions including future Lehigh NCAA Champion Mike Caruso who lost only one match in his combined HS and College career. Besides St.Benedict's John coached at Vailsburg,Seton Hall Prep,Seton Hall University,Summit HS, Weehawkin HS and Kean College. John has been honored in all sports including: National Football Hall of Fame,Seton Hall Hall of Fame,St, Benedict's Hall of Fame,1970 Star-Ledger Football Coach of the Year,Herald News Wresling Coach of the Year -1976,1985,1986,and the 1982 Baseball Coach of the Year from Worrell Publications. In wrestling John also received the Harry E.Lake Award for his service to NJ wrestling.
