Coach Harry Comiskey
Harry Comiskey devoted his skill, time and vision to Glen Rock High School as an English teacher and coach (girls and boys tennis and boys varsity and freshman basketball) for 39 years. He led the school’s tennis teams to state championships and received local and national recognition for his coaching.
Harry attended Rice High School in the Bronx and Iona College before gaining a master’s degree from Seton Hall University. He taught at Vancouver (British Columbia) College and at two parochial schools for seven years before coming to Glen Rock in 1969.
Harry led the girls tennis program from its early days (the 1970s) and the boys program for many years, for a combined tennis record of 770-155 and an 83% winning percentage (493-84 for girls tennis and 277-71 for boys tennis). He led the girls to countless league championships, eight Group, Sectional Championships, two Groups 1 & 2, Bergen County Championships — and two Group 1, State Championships (in 2000 and 2001). He also led the boys to numerous league championships as well as a Group Sectional Championship, Groups 1 & 2, Bergen County Championship and a Group 1, State Championship in 2000.
The year 2000 was the apogee for Glen Rock tennis, as both the girls’ and boys’ programs won their league championship, the Groups 1 & 2, Bergen County Championship, the Group 1, Sectional Championship and then the Group 1, State Championship, the first state championship for each team. The Record recognized each team as Bergen County’s Groups 1 & 2 “Team of the Year” and named Harry as Bergen County Coach of the Year for both girls tennis and boys tennis. Finally, the National Federation of State High Schools Associations named him National Girls Tennis Coach of the Year.
The Record also named Harry Bergen County Coach of the Year for boys tennis in 1998 and for girls tennis in 2001.
Harry was the boys varsity basketball coach from 1975 until 1988, guiding many great players including 1000 point scorers Kevin Jones and Rich Gashler. He also led the freshman basketball team for many years; the 1997 Frosh Panthers went 20-0 and won the Bergen County Tournament.
Harry was elected to the New Jersey State Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1999 and received an NJSIAA Sports Award in tennis in 2003. He is a member of the Bergen County Coaches Century Club in boys basketball, boys tennis and girls tennis.
“Hundreds of wins and thousands of memories“
- BCCA Century Club (100 wins)
- Girls’ Tennis (493-84)
- Boys’ Tennis (277-71)
- Boys’ Varsity Basketball
- Record Team of the Year (Groups 1 and 2) – Girls’ Tennis 2000
- Record Team of the Year (Groups 1 and 2) – Boys’ Tennis 2000
- Bergen County Coach of the Year – 1998, 2000 and 2001
- National Federation of High School Associations: National Girls’ Tennis Coach of the Year – 2000
- NJSCA Hall of Fame – 1999
- NJSIAA Sports Award (Tennis) – 2003