TRENTON, N.J. — Honorably discharged military veterans could become high school sports coaches in New Jersey without holding a teaching certificate or substitute teaching credential under legislation that recently advanced through the Assembly Education Committee.
The bill, A1429, sponsored by Assemblyman Erik Simonsen, R-Cape May, would allow public school districts to hire eligible veterans for interscholastic athletic coaching positions regardless of whether they have the educational credentials currently required.
The legislation was partly inspired by Ryan Lewis, an Army veteran and graduate of Lower Cape May Regional High School who played baseball at the school. Lewis served as an infantryman during his military career, including a deployment to Afghanistan in 2014, and currently serves full time in the Army National Guard…