Asbury Park Mourns A Loss

37 year old assistant Asbury Park football coach John Key died early Sunday morning when he was hit by a car on the parkway after checking on occupants in a car he had collided with.

"He was just an outstanding employee and had a wonderful repoire with the students, he always had a smile on his face and never had a bad thing to say about anyone," says John Napolitani, the president of Asbury Park's education Association.

Key had been a teacher in the district since 2000 and became assistant football coach in June. He also coached four seasons at Monmouth Regional High School and before that he was a coach at Ocean Township High School.

"If he had been given that opportunity, he would truly have been an outstanding administrator," says Napolitani.

He was a resident of Long Branch and the father of two children. The schools are providing grief counseling to help students and staff cope.