Irvington HS cross-country and track and field head coach Marvin Hawkins to be inducted into the New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association Hall of Fame

During the Irvington HS boys’ basketball game on Thursday, Feb. 8, IHS head coach Marvin Hawkins, left, learned he will be inducted into the New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association Hall of Fame. At left is IHS Athletic Director Dr. John Taylor.

IRVINGTON, NJ – Marvin Hawkins, the venerable longtime head coach of the Irvington High School cross-country and indoor and outdoor track and field teams, will be inducted into the New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

The NJSCA Hall of Fame is run by the New Jersey State Scholastic Athletic Association.

The awards ceremony is April 8 at the Westlin in Princeton.

In his 27 seasons as the cross-country coach, Hawkins has a 110-105 record for the boys’ team and a 126-96 record for the girls’ team.

Also during those 27 seasons, Hawkins has an 85-50 record for the boys’ outdoor track and field team and a 70-38 record for the girls’ track and field team.

Hawkins has won five boys’ indoor track state section titles in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013 and two boys’ outdoor track state section titles in 2006 and 2010. On the girls’ side, he has two indoor and two outdoor state section titles, both in 2011 and 2012.

Hawkins led the boys’ indoor track and field team to three Essex County titles in 2006, 2009, and 2011, and one boys’ Essex County outdoor track team title in 2008.

Hawkins also coached the boys’ outdoor track team to three outdoor Watchung Conference titles in 1995, 2005, and 2006.

Hawkins was a 13-time Worrall Community Newspapers Coach of the Year. He also was the Essex County Indoor Track Coach of the Year in 2005, 2008, 2010, and 2013, and the Essex County Outdoor Track Coach of the Year in 2005. He was the Newark Star-Ledger Outdoor Track Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2010, and Essex County Cross-Country Coach of the Year in 1996.

Hawkins was the boys’ and girls’ cross-country team for Shabazz HS for one season.

Said Hawkins: “I would like to thank (IHS athletic director) Dr. (John) Taylor for nominating me, the parents for trusting me with their children, the coaches that I worked with, and most importantly, the athletes whose hard work and dedication made this honor possible.”