Schools

Kevin Kostibos May Be Summit Football's Next Head Coach

Assistant Coach Kevin Kostibos is expected to be recommended for head coaching position at the next Board of Education meeting. Former Head Coach John Liberato stepped down from the position in January.

Kevin Kostibos, the assistant coach for the Summit High School Varsity Football team, will be recommended to the Board of Education for the team's head coaching position, according to The Star-Ledger.

Former Head Coach John Liberato, who was at helm of Summit Football since 2007 and lead team to state playoffs every year since 2008, announced he was stepping down from his position in early January 2013.

Kostibos was Liberato's assistant coach for the past few seasons, according to The Star-Ledger. He also played for Liberato at Hanover Park High School and at John Hopkins University.

Find out what's happening in Summitwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Athletic Director Mike Sandor told The Star-Ledger that he recommended Kostibos for the position to Superintendent Nathan Parker. He expects Parker to recommend Kostibos to the Board of Education at one of their meetings in February, which would give the final approval, according to The Star-Ledger.

“We interviewed internally, and believe there’s no need to go outside the district,” Sandor told The Star-Ledger.

Find out what's happening in Summitwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

After leading the Hilltoppers to a 30-0 state sectional title over Palisades Park in early December of 2012, the second in his six years as head coach, Liberato told Patch in early January that it was "the right time” to leave his position.

“I just felt it was time to make that decision,” Liberato told Patch. “I have the support of my family. The people here in Summit are tremendous; this has to be the best place to live in the world. Everybody here is very, very supportive and they’re very complimentary on everything that we’ve accomplished.”

Liberato, who has been a teacher and coach for football, wrestling and track at five schools during the past 25 years, told Patch that he will still continue as a physical education teacher and assistant wrestling coach at Summit High School.


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