Since its inaugural season in 1964-65, the J.F. Kennedy boys basketball program compiled only four seasons with at least 20 victories. Three of those four came under the direction of legendary head coach Ray Newman during the 1970s.
A protégé of Perth Amboy’s Bill Buglovsky during much of the Panthers’ Golden Era from the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s, Newman took over a beleaguered Mustangs program in 1969-70, and not only put an end to the team’s 33-game losing streak, but eventually led it to heights never thought imagined.
Kennedy went from one of the doormats in Middlesex County to 1974 MCAC Champions and MCT runner-up as well as CJ Group 3 Champions. Newman would go on to guide two more Mustang teams to 20-win campaigns in 1976-77 and 1977-78. Both times, JFK reached the Middlesex County Tournament Semifinals.
The only other 20-win season was the best ever. Led by another legendary coach Ken Pace, and players such as Lenny Reyes and Jamie Panko, the 1989-90 Mustangs won the most games in school history while garnering JFK’s only MCT/GMCT crown in boys basketball and another Central Jersey Group 3 championship.
| Season | Wins | Losses | Win % |
| 1989-90 | 28 | 3 | 0.903 |
| 1973-74 | 24 | 3 | 0.889 |
| 1977-78 | 21 | 6 | 0.778 |
| 1976-77 | 20 | 7 | 0.741 |