LACEY – The high school’s athletic complex has a new name, well suited to its football history.
School Board members approved – with full support of staff and administration – the naming of the Lacey Township High School athletic complex as Vircillo Stadium in honor of long-time Lacey High School Head Football Coach and teacher Louis A. Vircillo.
Superintendent Dr. Vanessa R. Pereira announced, “It is with great Lacey Pride that we celebrate the dedication and naming of the Lacey Township Football field Vircillo Stadium.”
The naming became official at a special dedication ceremony on August 26 where students, staff, former players, coaches and fans filled the stadium.
According to the district, Vircillo was hired on September 1, 1981, as a physical education teacher and head football coach. In those roles, he has always displayed dignity and respect for these positions.
The district also notes that throughout his 42 years of service as a teacher, mentor and coach, Vircillo has received numerous accolades, which includes more than 300 varsity wins and led his players to four New Jersey State Championships and 15 Conference titles.
“Vircillo instills integrity, hard work, loyalty, pride, and, most of all, tradition in all of his players and because of this lifetime of distinguished work, has received many achievements over the course of his career,” read the resolution naming the complex.
Those achievements include membership to the Shore Football Coaches Foundation Hall of Fame in 2012 and the NJ Football Coaches Association Ray McCrann Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. The resolution also notes that he “has worked tirelessly through the Lacey Football Foundation to allocate over $850,000 to the Lacey Township School District facilities, athletics, and students.”
Lacey Athletic Director Aimee Del Vento Evans told The Southern Ocean Times that “Lou Vircillo is the true definition of Lacey Pride. His 42 years of employment as a coach and teacher are unmatched; not only because of the number of years, but the dedication and hard work he has put into those years.
“He has developed the pride and traditions that have become the foundation of Lacey athletics. His 300 wins as a head coach are just one of the accolades he has accomplished in his illustrious coaching career, as well as multiple conference and state championships,” she added.
Del Vento Evans said, “not only is he a celebrated coach, he is also a dedicated member of our school community. The Football Foundation, which was created by him, has fundraised over a million dollars throughout his tenure that gone towards Lacey Athletics, the Lacey Township School District, and special education.”
“He is a pillar of our community and is a core part of Lacey Township. We are immeasurably lucky to have Coach Vircillo as a lifelong Lacey Lion,” she said.
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