Coaches
Andy West - Head Coach
The 2024 season marks the 5th year for Andy West as the Head Coach of the Ridge Football Program. In 2020, he was named the Big Central Conference Division 5D Coach of the Year. Andy has been a part of the Ridge community for over 35 years. As a student at Ridge, Andy played and captained the football and baseball teams, and was also a member of the swim team. During his three years on the Varsity Football team as a Linebacker and Fullback, the team finished with an overall record of 22-7, and won a Conference Championship. In Andy's two years on the varsity baseball team as a catcher, the team finished with an overall record of 49-12, and won two Section Championships and a State Championship. Upon graduating from Ridge in 2000, Andy continued his academic and athletic career at Endicott College in Beverly, MA.
In College, Andy played baseball and football, captaining the football team in 2003 while playing safety. He majored in Sports Management, minored in Coaching, and graduated in 2004. He continued his education at the College of Saint Elizabeth, earning his Masters in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in School Counseling. In 2011, Andy was hired as a School Counselor at William Annin Middle School.
In 2011, Andy began his coaching career at Ridge with the Baseball team, heading up the Junior Varsity program for eight years, before joining the Varsity program as the Pitching/Catching Coordinator. During his twelve years with the program, the baseball program has won two Somerset County Championships, several Conference Championships, and a Sectional Championship in 2021. In 2012, Andy joined the Ridge Football coaching staff under Coach Bill Tracy. After a year on the freshman level, he joined the Varsity staff in 2013 and helped lead the team to an undefeated Conference and Sectional Championship. Andy became the Defensive Coordinator and helped lead the team to six playoff appearances and two more trips to the section semi-finals. During his seven years on the Varsity staff, the team finished with an overall record of 50-23. In 2016, Andy joined the Ridge Swimming coaching staff as a Varsity Assistant. During his six years on the staff, he has helped lead the team to five section semi-final appearances.
Andy is fired up and ready to go for this season. He resides in New Providence with his wife, Alisa, and their daughter Lydia. Go Ridge!
Assistant Coaches
Brian McCarthy
Brian McCarthy
Brian McCarthy
Special Teams Coordinator, Tight Ends and Defensive Ends
Brian has been an instructional-aide in the district for 17 years where he enjoys helping children with disabilities. Brian is married (Colleen) and has three children (Spencer, Makayla and Brayden). Brian played high school football and basketball at Bridgewater and went on to pla
Special Teams Coordinator, Tight Ends and Defensive Ends
Brian has been an instructional-aide in the district for 17 years where he enjoys helping children with disabilities. Brian is married (Colleen) and has three children (Spencer, Makayla and Brayden). Brian played high school football and basketball at Bridgewater and went on to play football at Rowan University. This is Brian’s 4th year on the varsity staff. Coach McCarthy was hired as the varsity softball coach in 2020 after being an assistant varsity girls basketball coach for five years at Ridge.
Chase Vena
Brian McCarthy
Brian McCarthy
Varsity Assistant, Offensive Line, Linebackers, Kickers and Punters
Matt Giordano
Brian McCarthy
Matt Giordano
Varsity Assistant, Guards and Defensive Line
Matt is in his 3rd season as an offensive and defensive line coach. Previously he coached youth football in town for two seasons. He graduated from Ridge in 2018 after playing four years of football. Matt started varsity as a junior and senior playing offensive guard and defensive line. Current
Varsity Assistant, Guards and Defensive Line
Matt is in his 3rd season as an offensive and defensive line coach. Previously he coached youth football in town for two seasons. He graduated from Ridge in 2018 after playing four years of football. Matt started varsity as a junior and senior playing offensive guard and defensive line. Currently Matt attends Seton Hall university and will continue his studies while coaching this upcoming season.
AJ Peterpaul
Tom Blackwell
Matt Giordano
Varsity Assistant, Centers and Defensive Backs
AJ Peterpaul is in his 3rd season having played football and baseball at Ridge High School. AJ then went on to attend Monmouth University and graduated with a degree in Business Management in 2018. During 2018-2021, AJ coached football at Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia. AJ is curre
Varsity Assistant, Centers and Defensive Backs
AJ Peterpaul is in his 3rd season having played football and baseball at Ridge High School. AJ then went on to attend Monmouth University and graduated with a degree in Business Management in 2018. During 2018-2021, AJ coached football at Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia. AJ is currently enrolled at Rutgers University and will graduate with his Masters in Accounting in December 2022. AJ is working with the offensive lines and the defensive secondaries.
JD Moore
Tom Blackwell
Tom Blackwell
Varsity Assistant, Backfields
JD joins the coaching staff this year. He graduated from Ridge High School in 2012. playing Football, Basketball and Baseball. As a football captain, he was a QB/HB and DB earning all-conference, all area and all county honors.
He graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in Criminal Justice i
Varsity Assistant, Backfields
JD joins the coaching staff this year. He graduated from Ridge High School in 2012. playing Football, Basketball and Baseball. As a football captain, he was a QB/HB and DB earning all-conference, all area and all county honors.
He graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in Criminal Justice in 2016.
In 2018, he was hires as a police officer for the Bernards Township Police Department and is currently assigned as the Ridge High School Resource Officer. He also is an assistant Varsity coach for the boys basketball team at Ridge since 2018.
Tom Blackwell
Tom Blackwell
Tom Blackwell
Varsity Assistant, Quarterbacks and Defensive Backs
Tom graduated in 1990 from Ridge High School where he played football, basketball and baseball. He played baseball at Marietta College, where he majored in Sports Medicine. Tom coached football and baseball at Ridge and then was their first trainer from 1997-2001. He has been teaching h
Varsity Assistant, Quarterbacks and Defensive Backs
Tom graduated in 1990 from Ridge High School where he played football, basketball and baseball. He played baseball at Marietta College, where he majored in Sports Medicine. Tom coached football and baseball at Ridge and then was their first trainer from 1997-2001. He has been teaching health and coaching football and baseball at Ridge since 2001.
Tom led the 2021 baseball team to the North II Group IV Sectional Championship.
Ben Donaghy
Tyler Brandt
Tyler Brandt
Freshman Head Coach
Ben graduated in 2004 from Felician University where he played baseball and majored in Special Education. He was an all-conference outfielder during his senior year finishing with a career .324 batting average. Ben works in special education and autism using the principles of applied behavior analysis. He worked at REE
Freshman Head Coach
Ben graduated in 2004 from Felician University where he played baseball and majored in Special Education. He was an all-conference outfielder during his senior year finishing with a career .324 batting average. Ben works in special education and autism using the principles of applied behavior analysis. He worked at REED Academy for 14 years prior to coming to Bernards Township in 2019 where he has been a Special Ed teacher in the Comprehensive Behavior Analytic Program and district wide PMT (Physical and Psychological Management) Specialist. In April 2022, he was named Transitional Coordinator and Work-Based Learning Supervisor. Ben and his wife Kim live in Bernardsville and have two daughters Fiona and Elle.
Tyler Brandt
Tyler Brandt
Tyler Brandt
Assistant Freshman Coach
Tyler joined the football coaching staff in 2021 as the assistant freshman coach. He graduated from Kean University in 2019 with a degree in Health and Physical Education and a minor in coaching. While in college he was a member of the Kean university lacrosse team and was inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, the Natio
Assistant Freshman Coach
Tyler joined the football coaching staff in 2021 as the assistant freshman coach. He graduated from Kean University in 2019 with a degree in Health and Physical Education and a minor in coaching. While in college he was a member of the Kean university lacrosse team and was inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, the National College Athlete Honor Society. Tyler is also a Physical Education and Health teacher as well as the head JV lacrosse coach at Ridge High School.
Athletic Trainers
Aimee Mitchell
Certified Athletic Trainer
Aimee Mitchell earned a BS degree in Physical Education from East Stroudsburg University with a Masters in Health and Human Performance and a concentration in Athletic Training from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. Prior to joining Ridge in 2004, Aimee spent 2 years at Covenant College in GA as the Assoc. Trainer & 1 year as the Head Trainer at Bernards High.
Scott Hoagland
Certified Athletic Trainer
Scott Hoagland earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education/Athletic Training from Kean University along with a Masters in Sports Medicine from California University of PA. Scott has served as an Athletic Trainer at Ridge High School since 2001.