SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ–Last Friday, GMC Hoops learned that Al Czech is once again the athletic director at South Plainfield High School. Â Czech, who had recently returned to coach the boys freshmen team at SPHS this past season, took over for Mike Buggey, who retired on July 1st.
This past season, Czech guided the Little Tigers to its first Perth Amboy/GMC Freshmen Tourney Final Four appearance since 2005, and the first berth in the Championship Game since 2004. Â Ironically, Czech was the coach when the Tigers won the title in 2004, and reached the semifinal round in 2005. This year, the Little Tigers lost to St. Joseph’s-Green 54-41 in the 2011 Championship.
Czech, who had been serving as Principal at John E. Riley Elementary School in South Plainfield, served as athletic director at South Plainfield High School from 1985 to 1993. Â He became AD at a time when the school was transitioning from the Mid-State Conference to the Greater Middlesex Conference.
During his first tenure as AD at South Plainfield, Czech began the revitalization the athletic facilities at the school by renovating both the Frank R. Jost field and the gymnasium. Â Czech also coached the varsity football team for several years during that stint. Â Czech stepped down as AD to become Principal at John F. Kennedy Elementary school in South Plainfield.
Prior to arriving at SPHS to become athletic director in the fall of 1985, Czech was coach of the girls basketball team at nearby Bishop Ahr High School. Â He coached the likes of Yolanda Doctor, and the Lady Trojans won the last Middlesex County Tournament title.