?span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>         Mike Azzara names Camden basketball coach

Phil Anastasia, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted: Saturday, June 1, 2013, 3:01 AM

Michael Azzara made Camden basketball history this week.

Azzara, the monitor installed by the state Department of Education to oversee the Camden school system, settled an issue that has roiled the hoops-crazy city for the last 10 days.

Overruling the Camden Board of Education, Azzara appointed former Cherry Hill East coach John Valore as head coach of the Camden High School boys' basketball team.

"This is a great opportunity to me to teach my style of basketball to some outstanding players in a great place for basketball," Valore said Friday.

Valore was the head coach at Cherry Hill East, a rival of Camden's on the basketball court, from 1977-2011.

Valore was recommended for the Camden position by interim superintendent Reuben Mills at Tuesday's Board of Education meeting.

The board voted, 4-1, in favor of the recommendation, with two abstentions. But because Valore would have been a new appointment to the district, the recommendation needed five votes to pass.

In a letter to Mills, Board of Education president Kathryn Blackshear, and interim School Business Administrator John Oberg that was dated Thursday, Azzara said he was "overriding the board's vote."

Azzara said Valore was "highly qualified" and had the "highest rating" of all the candidates from the selection committee.

Valore replaces Cetshwayo Byrd, who was suspended by the Camden administration for allowing an independent filmmaker access to the team during the 2011-12 season without board of education approval.

Byrd had vowed to "fight" to get back his old job, according to a source close to him. He was believed to have the backing of a high-ranking political figure in the city who had asked school officials to consider reinstating the coach.

The vacancy at perhaps South Jersey's most fabled athletic program had created a buzz in a city that takes great interest in the basketball team at "The High."

Valore's hiring was endorsed by former Camden star Dajuan Wagner, a 2001 graduate widely regarded as the best player in South Jersey history.

"It's a good decision," Wagner said. "He knows basketball. This will be a good thing for the kids."

Valore will be Camden's first non-African-American coach since Tony Alfano retired after the 1970 season.

"I'm going to be proud to be involved with the Camden community," Valore said.

Valore said the team will begin summer workouts June 10. A big proponent of the three-point shot, Valore said he hoped to have workouts four days a week until mid-August to implement his fast-paced system.

"I'm a running and shooting coach," Valore said. "I'm excited to see exceptional athletes in this system."

Valore is believed to have the support of Camden athletic director Mark Phillips as well as Mills and some former Camden stars, such as 2000 graduate Arthur Barclay.

Barclay, who served as a volunteer assistant last season under Byrd, has expressed an interest to stay with the program as an assistant coach.

Former Camden star Vic Carstarphen, a 1988 graduate who interviewed for the job but was not a viable candidate because he lacks a teaching certificate, also is believed to be a potential assistant coach under Valore.

Byrd was Camden's coach for two seasons, winning two South Jersey Group 3 titles.

Byrd expressed surprise at Valore's appointment but declined further comment.

Valore, who won 549 games in 35 seasons at Cherry Hill East and also coached last season at Cumberland Regional, emerged as the leading candidate after interviewing with Mills and Phillips on May 17.

The court at Cherry Hill East is named "John Valore Court."

Current Cherry Hill East coach Dave Allen, a former player and assistant coach under Valore, said his old boss will be a great leader for the Camden program.

"John Valore and Cherry Hill East have been synonymous," Allen said. "Now, one of South Jersey's best programs just got our best. And he will give 'The High' what he gave us for 43 years - the very best that he's got."