Top Jersey Shore Coach Announces His Retirement After 19 Seasons, State Playoff Run

Walt Currie leaves behind a transformed Brick Memorial football program, after amassing 116 wins against 86 losses — a record that placed him as the winningest coach in school history

Brick Memorial coach Walt Currie. Toms River North football dominates Brick Memorial at Brick, NJl, on September 20, 2024. / Peter Ackerman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The final whistle blew on the 2025 season for Brick Memorial Mustangs, and with it came a moment few saw coming — the resignation of longtime head coach Walt Currie. After 19 seasons at the helm of the Jersey Shore power, Currie stepped down, bringing to an end a coaching career at Brick Memorial marked by resilience, growth, and success.

“It was not an easy decision and it’s taken me a while to understand the why and the when,” Currie told NJ Advance Media. “As for why, the analogy I’ve been using to explain to people is this: It’s like when a parent is teaching their kid how to ride a bike. You take the training wheels off but you’re still holding onto the seat, even though they can ride on their own. It’s time for me to let go of the bike.”

A Legacy Measured in Wins

During his tenure, the Mustangs notched two state sectional titles (2008, 2023) and claimed five Shore Conference divisional championships (2010, 2015, 2017, and twice in 2023) under his watch. His final season capped the run with a strong 10-3 record — a fitting farewell after a late-season push and solid playoff performance. This year’s team went down fighting. Ranked No. 16 in the most recent High School on SI Top 25 Rankings, the Mustangs battled No. 4 Winslow Township to the end in the Group 4 state semifinal, dropping a hard-fought 14-12 decision to the state’s fourth-ranked team.
His final win was a dominant 28-0 shutout of Middletown North in the Central Jersey Group 4 final—the program’s third sectional title.

Building the Program: More Than Just Numbers

The impact of Currie’s leadership extended well beyond wins and losses. When he arrived, the Mustangs were still carving out their identity on the Jersey Shore football landscape. Over his 19 seasons, he built a culture grounded in discipline, teamwork, and steady improvement. Local reporting noted that through ups and downs — including seasons of rebuilding — Currie remained committed to the mission: developing young men on and off the field.

There were lean years, seasons where the record didn’t reflect the effort: 3-7 or 3-5 campaigns that tested patience and belief. But through it all, Currie stayed, guiding the program forward — reminding players that character matters as much as touchdowns.

That consistency paid off. The program matured, found its identity, and became known not just for flashes of brilliance but for sustained competitiveness. By the time 2025 rolled around, Brick Memorial was back in the mix — contending, winning, thriving.

The Farewell: Reflection and Gratitude

On the day of his resignation, Currie expressed gratitude — to the players who wore the green and gold, to their families, to the assistant coaches who stood beside him, and to the community that supported the Mustangs through thick and thin.

For many alumni and longtime supporters, Currie wasn’t just a coach — he was the backbone of a generation. Under his leadership, Brick Memorial football became a source of pride, a Friday-night tradition, and a proving ground for young athletes learning life’s lessons under stadium lights.

And while the page turns, the imprint remains. Currie’s record — 116-86, two sectional championships, five divisional titles — will stand for years as a benchmark. More importantly, the culture he fostered: respect, perseverance, unity.

Hope that a Member of his Current Staff is Named as his Successor

Currie explained that this moment felt like the ideal time to give someone already on the staff the best chance to take over the program. He believed the culture was firmly established and that the coaching group in place was exceptional. To him, the program had been built in a way that could thrive from the inside, without needing an outside hire. Passing the team on to one of his assistants had always been his hope, and he expressed confidence that several of them were ready for the opportunity and capable of becoming strong head coaches in the future.

What Comes Next: A Program in Transition — But Standing Tall

With Currie’s departure, the Mustangs now face a new chapter. The search for a successor begins, one who can honor what’s come before while writing a new future. The community will inevitably reflect on Currie’s legacy — but also look forward.

There will be a mix of nostalgia and anticipation. Nostalgia for a coach who shaped so many seasons, so many players, so many memories; anticipation for what comes next under fresh leadership.

But as one door closes, another opens. The foundation built by Currie is solid. The values he instilled — commitment, hard work, loyalty — remain. And the Mustangs stand ready, helmets strapped on, eyes forward, ready to run out under Friday-night lights once more.

In the end, the story of Walt Currie at Brick Memorial is not just about numbers or championships — it’s about steady growth, community, and faith in a program worth investing in. As he rides off into retirement, the Mustangs carry forward not just a record, but a legacy.