John Power steps down as Columbia HS football coach; named new coach at Morristown HS

MAPLEWOOD and SOUTH ORANGE – After leading the team to the state sectional playoffs in his second year at the helm last fall, John Power has stepped down as Columbia High School head varsity football coach.

Power has accepted the head football coaching position at Morristown High School, which has a rich football tradition.

The Cougars last season qualified for the state North Jersey Section 2, Group 5 playoffs. The seventh-seeded Cougars lost at second-seeded Westfield in the quarterfinals to finish with a 5-5 record. It marked the Cougars’ first state sectional playoff appearance since 2010 when they were in Section 2, Group 4. Last season also was their first non-losing season since 2010.

In Power’s first season in 2014, the Cougars were 1-9, beating Livingston in Week 8 to snap a 16-game losing streak dating back to the 2013 season when they beat Kearny in the season opener and lost the final nine games to also finish 1-9 in Dave Curtin’s sixth and final season at the helm. Curtin was the coach for seven years, having to take a leave of absence for the 2011 season.

Prior to coming to Columbia, Power was the head coach at Hillside High School and an assistant recruiting coordinator at Penn State University.

Morristown finished 3-7 last season under Chris Hull, who stepped down. Morristown has won six state sectional championships, with the last title coming in 2010 when they defeated Nutley in the Section 2, Group 3 final in East Rutherford.

CHS athletic director Larry Busichio said Power’s departure was “a huge loss.” Busichio said the process of finding a new coach has begun.