St. Joseph Regional Football Coach Suspended Days Before ESPN Showdown With Mount Carmel

St. Joseph Regional will open its football season on national television without head coach Augie Hoffman on the sideline.

The Montvale, New Jersey, school has suspended Hoffman for two games for violating school policies related to offseason training, a punishment that begins with Friday's nationally televised showdown against Chicago power Mount Carmel.

The Bergen Record first reported Hoffman’s suspension.

Hoffman Will Miss Two Games Against National Powers

The Green Knights, a team under consideration in this week’s High School On SI Power 25 national rankings after winning the New Jersey Non-Public A state championship last season, are scheduled to play Mount Carmel in Chicago on Friday afternoon on ESPN.

Hoffman will travel with the team but will not be permitted on the sideline. Offensive line coach Zach Naszimento will serve as the Green Knights’ interim head coach.

Hoffman will also miss St. Joe’s home game Sept. 5 against Creekside (GA). He would be eligible to return for the Green Knights’ game at Delbarton on Sept. 12.

Violation Is Not Hoffman's First Suspension

According to an email sent to families of the football team and provided to NJ.com, the suspension is related to “a personnel matter involving an infraction related to a violation of established school policies related to preseason activities.”

It is not the first time Hoffman has been suspended during his tenure at St. Joseph Regional. Hoffman also was suspended for the first two games of the 2018 season following a brawl in the final minutes of the 2017 Non-Public Group 3 semifinals between St. Joseph Regional and Pope John XXIII.

Hoffman Has Found Success in Two Stints With St. Joseph

This is Hoffman's second stint leading the program. He previously served as head coach from 2014-19 before returning in 2024. Last season, he led the Green Knights to a 10-2 record, their first state championship since 2018 and the No. 21 spot in the the No. 21 spot in the final 2025 Power 25 rankings.

Hoffman also has been selected as one of the head coaches for the 2027 Navy All-American Bowl, scheduled for January in San Antonio.

St. Joseph Regional Returns Loaded Defense

The Green Knights have one of New Jersey’s top defensive units, led by University of Washington commit Chaz Gray, a 3-star edge rusher with eight sacks last fall who is ranked No. 8 among the class of 2027 recruits by 247Sports; 3-star safety Jonathan Galette, a Penn State commit; and 4-star linebacker Tahj Gray, 247Sports’ third-ranked recruit in the class of 2028 who made a team-high 102 tackles (10.5 for loss) and 4.5 sacks a year ago.

That talent has St. Joseph Regional positioned among New Jersey's top teams again in 2026. The Green Knights will get an immediate test against Mount Carmel, which entered the season ranked No. 24 nationally by High School On SI before dropping out of this week's Power 25 following a season-opening loss to East St. Louis.

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