homepress release essex county freeholders honor montclair high school�s mark janifer � winner of the nj.com 2020 ice hockey coach of the year award

Montclair High School Boys’ Ice Hockey Head Coach – Mark Janifer

(Newark, NJ) – The Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders honored Montclair High School Boys’ Ice Hockey Coach Mark Janifer for being named the 2019-2020 Ice Hockey Coach of the Year by NJ.com. The Board’s commendation was sponsored by acclamation and delivered to Coach Janifer, in lieu of a presentation ceremony, due to gathering restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Montclair High School Ice Hockey team had a great season in 2019-2020. The team went 18-6-2 overall and advanced to the final game of both the McInnis Cup and the State Championship (Public A – NJSIAA Tournament). The success of the team helped Coach Janifer win multiple accolades. In addition to being named the 2019-2020 NJ.com Ice Hockey Coach of the Year, he was named the Essex County High School Hockey Coach of the Year and the State Wide High School Hockey Coach of the Year.

Coach Janifer began his coaching career at the helm of Whippany Park in 1983, and has been either a head or assistant coach ever since. In addition to his exploits as a hockey coach, he has also excelled as a tennis and baseball coach during his time at Montclair High School. Prior to the accolades he earned this season, he led the Montclair High School Ice Hockey team to the 2018 Clary Anderson Holiday Tournament Championship. He also served as an assistant coach of the 2016 MHS Ice Hockey team that finished the regular season undefeated. As the Head Coach of the West Orange High School Ice Hockey team, he led them to the league and state playoffs, and the 2012 Codey Holiday Tournament Championship.

Coach Janifer and his wife Karen are the proud parents of three sons and have resided in Montclair since 1987. Originally from Newark, he graduated from Arts High School in 1976 and went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in Engineering from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1980. Away from the hockey rink, he is the Founder and President of Telecom Express, Incorporated, a telecom consulting, management and sales organization also headquartered in Montclair. He is a jazz musician and enjoys tennis, golf and science fiction.