WILDWOOD CATHOLIC ACADEMY ANNOUNCES BASKETBALL COURT DEDICATION
New Court Dedicated to Alumni/Coach Fran St. John on Monday, December 19, 6pm
North Wildwood, NJ - Wildwood Catholic Academy has announced that the newly designed and refinished basketball court will be named in honor of alumni and retired coach, Fran St. John. The refinishing and court dedication is the beginning of an improvement initiative that will update multiple facets of the St. Mary Ellen Ford Gymnasium. The dedication will take place on the court at the first home game for the girls’ varsity program on Monday, December 19, at 6pm.
Fran St. John began his basketball career as a player at Wildwood Catholic High School from 1953 to 1956, under the coaching of Frank McAlarnen, “The Father of WC Basketball.” He started coaching in 1966 as the assistant under McAlarnen, eventually becoming the boy’s head coach, and then moving to the girl’s head coach in 2000. He “retired” in 2011 after 45 years of coaching, but quickly returned, and remains as the girl’s assistant coach. In his nearly 60-year tenure, he has not only gained the respect of CAL and NJSIAA governing bodies, referees, fellow coaches, and players but has also supported the school and its students through the years with continued generosity.
The opportunity to update and dedicate the home court came after the emergence of Wildwood Catholic Academy in 2020, which resulted from the merger of Wildwood Catholic High School and Cape Trinity Catholic Grade School. As rebranding efforts continue, this summer was spent focusing on the court to reflect new logos and design, and a completely refinished surface.
“It has been the desire of the board for many years to significantly honor Coach Fran St. John,” said Kevin Quinn, Parish Administrator of Notre Dame de la Mer Parish. “We are dedicating the new court to honor his long-standing dedication to the school, and doing so in a way that future generations of student-athletes can continue to have a connection to his legacy.”
St. John stands among a number of notable coaches for the program, and as the renovation initiative moves forward, plans are underway to additionally acknowledge the legendary staff that has coached before and after St. John since the school’s inception in 1948 to present.