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Well known for his nine-year stint as head basketball coach at St. Peter's College, Ted took his own time out from the game to become vice principal at Pequannock High School. But in 1998 he was lured back to the court when the men's head coaching position opened at Montclair State.
"I left coaching in 1996 for an administrative position because I felt it was a wise career decision at the time," Ted said." But it wasn't long before I missed coaching. I would have stayed in public education, but the opportunity came for me to leave and follow what I really love to do, which is coach."
A former basketball player at Seton Hall University, Ted first set foot on the Montclair State campus as a graduate student and earned a master's degree in physical education in 1966. He then began coaching at the college level and went on to scout for the New Jersey Nets and the Toronto Raptors.
When Ted joined the Red Hawks two years ago, news of the former Division I coach joining a Division III team made headlines. But the seasoned coach said he is enjoying the Division III atmosphere. "In Division I there's more pressure, like dealing with the arenas and the NCAA tour," he explained. "I enjoyed that at one time, but my priorities have changed. Now I can really enjoy what I do.
"Montclair State is a great school and campus," he said. "I enjoy working with the students and I feel I have something to offer them."
The many trophies that line the shelves in Ted Fiore's cubicle in Panzer Gym,
including an All-American Coach of the Year and an Eastern College Athletic Conference
2000 championship trophy, are one indication of the head coach's passion for basketball.
But if you really want to get a feel for Ted's love of the game, watch him in
action on the sidelines when the Red Hawks take to the court. Coaching is simply
in his blood.