Jim Raso will be the new head football coach for Hammonton High.

Raso replaces long-time coach Pete Lancetta, who resigned after 26 seasons to become an assistant coach at Rowan University.

I'm from Hammonton, I played for Hammonton, I coached at Hammonton. I understand what this tradition is all about

He is a familiar name around the program, first as a player, he was a member of Hammonton teams that won back-to-back South Jersey Group 2 titles in 1993 and 1994. Then as an assistant coach on Lancetta's staff in 1999-2000 and from 2002 through last season.

"My big thing is to try to maintain that Hammonton tradition," Raso said. "I'm from Hammonton, I played for Hammonton, I coached at Hammonton. I understand what this tradition is all about."

Raso, a special education teacher in Hammonton, inherits a Blue Devil team that will return several veterans from a team that went 7-4, won a playoff game and lost to eventual champion Shawnee in the semifinals of the South Jersey Group 4 tournament.

"It's one of those moments you will remember the rest of your life," Raso said told the Philadelphia Inquirer about being named the head football coach at his alma mater.

Hammonton spent it's first season in the West Jersey Football League after being a original member of the Cape-Atlantic League.

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