W+H veteran coach Jim Howard, the longest tenured golf coach in New Jersey, officially received his State Girls’ Golf Coach of the Year award at the annual New Jersey State Coaches Association Luncheon at the Pines Manor on Jan. 15. Coach Howard was accompanied by his wife, Sue, a longtime Lower School art teacher at W+H, and Rams athletic director Mike Romeo.
Plaques were presented to head coaches in every high school sport sanctioned by the NJSIAA. Coach Howard, who guided the Rams to two consecutive undefeated state championship seasons in 2021 and 2022, became the first W+H coach to receive this distinction.
“It was an honor and a pleasure to be able to coach the girls on the W+H golf team. I share this award with them,” Coach Howard said. “They should be applauded for their skills, dedication, and enthusiasm. I am just as proud of the fact that the girls’ golf team won the school award for having the highest GPA for the last 3-4 years. In all the years that I have been the coach of the boys’, coed, and girls’ teams at W+H, I have never had a group of players who were as dedicated as the girls from the last four years.”
Coach Howard’s players clearly feed off his enthusiasm and dedication, both on and off the course. He has inspired them to be better players and students.
“What makes Mr. Howard a great golf coach is his immense passion and love for the game of golf,” Claire Lu ’24 said. “ He cares greatly for the golf team and we deeply appreciate him for doing what he does.”