Todd Decker is the new head basketball coach at St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City.
Decker, 32, takes over for Mike Kelly, who spent five years at the parochial powerhouse before being promoted to captain in the Jersey City Police Department.
“I’m honored to be the head coach of Saint Peter’s Prep,” Decker said. “There is not a better school in the tri-state area for student-athletes. We will continue to build on what was started here five years ago, and continue to attract some of the top players around. I have some big shoes to fill, but am grateful for all the knowledge that Coach Kelly gave to me.”
Kelly, 49, owns a career record of 340-175. He spent five years at St. Peter’s Prep, leading the school to the last four Hudson County Tournament cr0wns and advancing to the North Jersey, Non-Public A final last season after winning the sectional title in 2010.
Kelly couldn’t keep the job because of the promotion.
“I’ve been juggling a lot of balls in the air for the last five years,” he said. “I just got a promotion.”
He said Decker will continue to move the “ship in the right direction.”
“It’s nice to hand it off to a guy that played for me on a state title team [at Wayne Valley] so it’s a very comfortable situation,” Kelly added.
Said Decker: “”Not much is going to change. It’s a prestigious school, great athletic department, and we will always be about the Prep Basketball Family. We have been very fortunate to get talented kids of high character, who want to be held accountable and consistently work hard.”
