Recently, Bernards graduate and Athletic Director Mike Hoppe was given the Chester Zdorowski Distinguished Educator award.
The Bill Denny Awards Dinner is an annual event in the New Jersey football landscape. The award show namesake, Bill Denny, was the South River High School football coach from 1927-1961. The chapter was founded in 1968 and has been honoring students and educators ever since. The awards given out are for educators and student-athletes who have had “exemplary achievements in the classroom and on the field”.
A Bernardsville man for life, Mr. Hoppe attended Bernards High for four years and was a multi-sport athlete. After graduating from TCNJ in 1984, he decided to make a return as a coach. Hoppe said that Bernards “helped shape him” and that the opportunity to come back was “humbling and inspiring.”
Mr. Hoppe coached a plethora of sports since his return to his alma mater, including a stint as the head baseball coach. He led the squad to success years during the 1980s and 90s before leaving to become the school’s Athletic Director in 2000. Hoppe called these some of the most impactful years of his 42-year stint at BHS.
“Being a head coach makes a good A.D. No one truly understands the pressures of being a coach unless you have been one.” Hoppe said, regarding how his coaching career impacted his career as A.D.
Chester Zdrowoski was a founder of the Bill Denny Chapter. He was a standout football player at South River High School and then at Manhattan College collegiately. His most impactful years came later, however, as the principal of his alma mater and then the mayor of South River. Throughout his tenure, he always promoted the values of being part of a team and its benefits to the youth. His legacy continues to be a role model for younger educators.
Overall, Hoppe has made many changes to the culture of athletics at Bernards, as Bernards consistently performs well despite their smaller size. He is one of the most influential people in Bernards’ athletics history, and his legacy will live on forever.
Along with Mr. Hoppe, Justin Simpson ‘26 was given the Bill Denny Award, a reflection of all of his incredible contributions to the Bernards football program.
Throughout his 3 years in the starting lineup, the Mountaineers did not lose a single regular-season game, going 32-3 overall. In 2023, they won the North 2 Group 2 sectional championship in school history with a win over Lakeland High School. Graduating as a member of the winningest senior class in school history, his impact through leadership and great play will be revered for years to come in Bernard’s history.
Simpson was a driving force behind some of the best offenses in the history of the school. Along with fellow senior lineman Finn Osborne, James Renz, and Hudson Gershon, Simpson paved the way for running back Logan Stevens ‘26, who rushed for a career high 1,100 yards, nearly doubling his total of 606 from 2024. Simpson was recognized for his elite play with an All-State 3rd team selection, a rare feat for someone playing at a school the size of Bernards.
Simpson said that earning the distinction “was a great honor.”
Simpson is committed to play football at The College of New Jersey next fall.
Overall, Hoppe and Simpson’s contribution to the athletics of the school has created a culture of winning, one that will carry on for years to come.
