John Allen began his lifetime commitment to sports some 50 years ago at St. Benedicts Prep.where as a student he excelled in three sports: football, wrestling, and baseball. The school recognized his excellent qualities by awarding him the prestigious Presidential Award for his “ability in leadership, proficiency in scholarship, and versatility in athletics.” Following prep school John attended Seton Hall University on a baseball scholarship graduating in 1958. But before graduation, in John’s sophomore year, he served as an assistant football coach and began coaching wrestling at St. Benedicts, thus began a lifelong love affair with wrestling.

His immediate success as a novice coach was phenomenal. While helping the legendary Joe Kasberger maintain the excellence of the school’s football program, John, in three years, led his wrestling team to the New Jersey State Prep School Championship which they won the next six out of seven years. By 1962 the team had established itself as the premier Prep school program in the nation by winning the National Prep School Championship. From 1959 to 1962 the St. Benedict’s Prep wrestling team accumulated 40 consecutive dual match wins over public, private, and parochial competition. The 1961-62 teams unbelievably had its first seven weight classes filled with National Prep or State Prep AAU Champions. John coached 30 individual state prep champions and seven national prep champions, the foremost being Mike Caruso who recorded an 81-0 high school record before earning three NCAA championships at Lehigh University, the first individual to accomplish that feat at the storied Lehigh school. Caruso, who had never wrestled, in fact never seen a wrestling match until he met John Allen, earned a lifetime record of 152-2 with both of his defeats eventually avenged. Caruso never took less than a gold from any tournament he entered in prep school or college. And, of course, it is John Allen whom Caruso credits with teaching him the basic skills necessary for success as well as instilling in him the desire to win. Football, wrestling, baseball – at St. Benedict’s Prep, Vailsburg High School, Seton Hall University, Essex Catholic Boy’s High School, Summit High School, Seton Hall Prep, Kean College and Weehawkin High School. Wherever John taught and coached - at the public, private, parochial schools, at the high school or college level, in both urban and suburban settings - he provided youth with positive learning experiences that extended to life long experiences for success. He has set an example of honesty, integrity and fairness by modeling behavior that promotes the highest competitive nature of sport within the mantel of the rules and good sportsmanship. His respect for athletes, coaches, parents and officials promoted a positive environment conducive to all that is good about athletics. A John Allen team was always well coached, highly competitive, respectful of the rules and consistently displayed good sportsmanship.

John Allen has always been grateful to his mentor, the venerable and legendary Joe Kasberger, who gave John direction and example when as a youth John played football and baseball for him at St. Benedict’s Prep. John feels fortunate to have coached under his idol. He has always viewed his wonderful parents and Joe Kasberger as humble people to whom he will be forever indebted to for their wisdom and guidance. Certainly, John’s parents and Joe Kasberger would be justifiably proud of John.

John has won numerous honors and awards throughout the years including: National Football Hall of Fame; Newark Athletic Hall of Fame; St. Benedict’s Prep Hall of Fame; Seton Hall’s Hall of Fame; 1970 Star-Ledger Football Coach of the Year; Herald News and Worrell Publications Wrestling Coach of the Year in 1976, 1985, and1986; and in 1982 Worrell baseball Coach of the Year. He received the Harry E. Lake Award for his commitment to wrestling in New Jersey. John presently serves as a member of the New Jersey Sports Hall of Fame Committee and the Association of Mathematics Teachers of New Jersey.

John is an exceptional individual. He has devoted his life in working with young people through athletics: teaching the skills and attitudes fundamental for success in sports but more importantly teaching his players how to win with humility and lose with grace and dignity. Discipline has been the centerpiece of Allen’s teachings and the cornerstone of all of his teams. For John winning was never more important to him than doing the right thing. John Allen has always enjoyed the reputation of being a gentleman coach who brought credit to his profession, teams, schools, community and family. He is a superb example for both coaches and athlete.