Paramus Catholic coach Dan Sabella (center) celebrates with his team after during Paramus’ 38-20 win Friday at Michigan Stadium.
When current Wolverines and former Paramus (NJ) Catholic products Jabrill Peppers and Juwann Bushell-Beatty committed to Michigan back in 2013, their head coach at the time, Chris Partridge, believed the Michigan program under Brady Hoke was the best all-around fit for both players athletically and academically.
Fast-forward to 2016. Michigan’s new coach, Jim Harbaugh, hired Partridge to a director of player personnel role. He has since then and is currently the team’s linebackers and special teams coach. Peppers and Bushell-Beatty are in their third seasons, and the Wolverines secured the commitment of the nation’s top prospect and fellow Paladin Rashan Gary. Michigan is also recruiting Paramus Catholic’s star 2017 prospect, four-star linebacker Drew Singleton. Many believe they are the favorites to sign him.
In June, Harbaugh left his satellite camp responsibilities to be the commencement speaker at the school’s graduation ceremony. This was after U-M hosted one of their satellite camps at Paramus Catholic within the same month. Finally, on Friday, the Paladins played their first regular season game in Michigan Stadium, marking the first time in the modern era that a school outside of state borders played a high school game at the Big House.
Critics have derided the budding relationship between the high school and football program as nothing more than clever recruiting tactics on the part of the Wolverines, particularly after the hiring of Partridge. Paramus Catholic president James Vail doesn’t and hasn’t seen it that way since the beginning.
“There’s all these very interesting conspiracy theories,” Vail said in a wry tone about the relationship between the two schools. “Up until a few years ago, I knew nothing about the University of Michigan. I had nothing good to say about them, and I had nothing bad to say about them. I follow my former students. I have four former students who have big jobs in the Big Ten. I have Chris Partridge here, I have former students with big jobs at Penn State, Rutgers and Minnesota. I take pride in them all.
Michigan linebacker coach Chris Partridge (center) and Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh watch during Paramus’ 38-20 win Friday at Michigan Stadium.
“I know passion. I know hard work. That’s what I see here. I’m very happy about that for our students who have chosen to go here. It’s people. Not the institution. I’m loyal to people that are here, and I’m loyal to people that are at other places. It just so happens that I know more of them here than some other places.”
Vail had particular praise for Harbaugh, whom he says is a great leader. Because of the intersecting of the two schools, the pair have gotten to know each other very well.
“I’ve had the honor to get to know Coach Harbaugh,” he said. “I have great, great respect for him. We don’t talk about football; I’m not really a football guy. I’m just an old religion teacher. I know leadership when I see it. I know character when I see it. I know synergy between people working towards a common goal. That’s what he has, and that’s what he teaches his kids.”
Paramus Catholic coach Steve Kanoc echoed Vail’s thoughts on Harbaugh and his approach.
“He’s a real guy,” Kanoc said matter-of-factly. “He makes you feel comfortable. You know what you’re getting with him. You can have a basic, non-football conversation with him. The kids see that, and they’ve seen it on their own.”
Kanoc, like Partridge before him, has been on multiple recruiting trips with his current and former players. He believes there is a tangible similarity between what Paramus strives for at the high school level and what Michigan offers at the college level both on and off the field.
“I’ve been here six times now,” he said of Ann Arbor and Michigan. “It’s a great place to be. Our kids fit in so well from the way we run our system into how they run things here. There’s a natural comfort level because things are so similar. The parents feel it, too, when they get to experience it. For our guys who have the opportunity to be here, it’s truly a natural fit and has been.”
Steve Lorenz is the editor and publisher of Wolverine247 of the 247Sports Network. You can follow him on Twitter @TremendousUM and give Wolverine247 a try today.