Donnie Reid, shown here on the sideline for Perth Amboy Tech against Calvary Christian on January 24, 2022, became the new head coach at Perth Amboy prior to the 2022-23 season.
Former Cardinal McCarrick Standout Coached at Amboy Tech Last Season
PERTH AMBOY, NJ – For the third time in five years, and the 4th time in the last 6 seasons, there is a new head coach of boys basketball at Perth Amboy High School. Former Cardinal McCarrick standout, Donnie Reid, who has had previous coaching stints at Academy of Urban Leadership and Perth Amboy Tech (now Perth Amboy Magnet), takes the helm in Perth Amboy.
Reid takes over the Panthers program at a time when it is trying to rebuild. Perth Amboy didn’t play hoops at all two seasons ago. Last year, the team finished 7-17. And, for the first time since the formation of the Greater Middlesex Conference for the 1985-86 season, the Panthers are competing in a division other than the GMC Red in boys basketball.
Prior to arriving at Amboy for the 2022-23 season, Reid coached at Perth Amboy Tech last season. He guided the Patriots to a 15-11 season, a third place finish in the GMC Gold, and a quarterfinals appearance in the 2022 NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 1 State Tournament. Amboy Tech battled top division contenders Timothy Christian and Wardlaw-Hartridge last season.
The Patriots compiled a 10-4 mark in the Gold Division with all four losses coming at the hands of TCS (lost twice) and Wardlaw (lost twice). However, in those four games versus the Tigers and Rams, Amboy Tech only lost by a total of 29 points with three of those contests being decided by single digits. In addition, Perth Amboy Tech defeated Calvary Christian three times and state qualifier, Middlesex of the GMC Blue.
GMC Hoops covered three of Amboy Tech’s games versus Wardlaw (once) and Timothy Christian (twice). It also covered the last two contests versus Calvary Christian and its state playoff win versus Academy of Urban Leadership. In each of the three victories, Amboy Tech would have an explosive quarter that broke the game open. The Pats used a trapping defense to create turnovers and disrupting their opponents offensive rhythm.
The senior laden Perth Amboy Tech team would end its season with a 53-42 loss to Florence of Burlington County. Prior to coaching at Amboy Tech a year ago, Reid coached at another school in Perth Amboy, the Academy of Urban Leadership. In three seasons at AUL, Reid compiled a 45-27 mark including the school’s best season ever of 24-5 in 2019-20.
During the 2019-20 campaign, the Jaguars lost four of its five games by a total of 32 points including three by single digits. AUL defeated Marion P. Thomas Charter of Plainfield for the New Jersey Charter School Athletic League Championship (58-53). Then in the 2020 Central Jersey Group 1 State Tournament, the Jags defeated Riverside (76-62) and South Hunterdon (58-44) in the first two rounds before losing to second seeded Bound Brook (67-55) in the semifinals.
In his four year coaching career, Reid has compiled a coaching record of 60-38. As a player, Reid played high school hoops at Cardinal McCarrick of South Amboy. A member of three McCarrick varsity teams from 2002 to 2005, Reid contributed to two sectional championship teams in 2003 and 2005, and two GMCT Final Four teams including the 2003 GMCT Champion Eagles.
At McCarrick, Reid played under the tutelage of Joe Lewis, who brought the Eagles from mediocrity in the mid-1990s to the top of the GMC heap in the early to mid 2000s. Lewis made 7 GMCT Final Four appearances from 2003 to 2012. From 1998 to 2012, Lewis guided the Eagles of St. Mary’s and Cardinal McCarrick (St. Mary’s became McCarrick in 2001-02) to 11 division titles. Lewis won the GMCT boys crown in 2003 and 2008 while winning Non-Public B South titles in 2003, 2005, and 2011.
Before becoming a varsity head coach, Reid coached the JV program at Perth Amboy. He and former McCarrick teammate, Jordan Manley, who served as freshman coach for the Panthers became quite a team at the sub-varsity level for the Panthers under then head coach Edwin Santana. Manley would go on to be Reid’s assistant at AUL and Amboy Tech.
The Panthers lost the likes of Kevin Clemons, Mehki Denny and Justin Quintero among a total of 9 seniors from last year’s team, but still have Lorenzo Perez and Aaron Rambajan Jr. returning. Amboy was also able to add a couple transfers from AUL in Angel Rosario and Manny Henriquez and a couple players back from St. Joseph’s in twins Jadiel and Orlando Manzueta.
So, there’s optimism in the cradle of Middlesex County boys basketball as the Panthers begin play in the GMC White this season.