Shawn DiVece knows about the great tradition of Cherokee football.
He has actually lived it for much of his life.
A former player and assistant coach for the Chiefs, DiVece is now taking the next step as the new head football coach at Cherokee.
He replaces Brian Glatz, who resigned after the season, which was his seventh as head coach.
“I am beyond excited to really just continue the tradition and excellence that I was basically instilled by my former coach John Scott and coaching under PJ Mehigan and Brian Glatz, both former Cherokee players,” DiVece said.
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DiVece, 43, is a 1999 graduate of Cherokee. As a senior in 1998 he played on an 8-3 team that advanced to the South Jersey Group 4 semifinals.
DiVece rarely left the field.
“He was a good player, one of the leaders on the team,” said Glatz, who was a Cherokee assistant coach when DiVece was a player. “He was a starter at wide receiver and safety/linebacker and was tough and competitive.”
From there, he attended La Salle University, where DiVece started at receiver as a sophomore, moved to defense and played linebacker his junior season and was a starting wide receiver as a senior. He also was a college punt returner.
DiVece learned a lot about the game both in high school and college and in 2003, he became an assistant coach under Mehigan at Cherokee.
During his time with Mehigan, DiVece coached receivers and was a passing game specialist, fully involved in game planning.
In his seven seasons under Glatz, DiVece was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
When DiVece mentioned the great tradition of Cherokee football, he certainly knew what he was talking about.
Since the advent of NJSIAA football playoffs in 1974, Cherokee has made 34 postseason appearances, with 17 sectional final appearances and 12 sectional titles, according to Gridironnewjersey.com
Under Glatz, the Chiefs won two sectional titles – the Central Jersey Group 5 crown in 2019 and the South Jersey Group 5 championship in 2023.
What has made the run even more impressive is Cherokee annually plays among the toughest schedules in South Jersey. This past season the Chiefs went 5-6, but still won a playoff game while competing in the West Jersey Football League American Division, which consisted of Group 4 state champion Winslow Township, Central Jersey Group 4 champion Millville, South Jersey Group 3 champ Mainland and always tough St. Augustine, which won seven games.
“I think playing such a tough schedule makes you battle-tested,” DiVece said. “In 2019 for instance our schedule was brutal, and we lost four in a row leading to the playoffs and then won the sectional title.”
That season the Chiefs beat Kingsway, 35-18 to win the Central Jersey Group 5 championship.
DiVece, has been a math teacher at Cherokee since 2007, after serving the same position the previous three years for Westampton Tech. He not only has the requisite football knowledge, but a life-long affinity for his high school.
“Shawn is not just a football guy but a Cherokee football guy,” Glatz said. “He is homegrown, and very passionate about Cherokee football.”
In addition to playing football, DiVece was a third baseman on the Cherokee baseball team. His senior year in 1999, the Chiefs won the South Jersey Group 4 title. He is a big believer in multi-sports athletes.
“We stress multi-sports athletes,” he said. “I think it helps in all the sports.”
By seeing his resume one can surely see that DiVece has certainly paid his dues climbing the coaching ladder.
“I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world and I am very grateful for PJ giving me the opportunity and to also coach under Brian,” he said. “It’s been great. and I am so excited to get to the next chapter in my life and my next chapter in Cherokee football.”
Marc Narducci is a freelance reporter for the Courier-Post. He can be reached at cpvarsity@gmail.com
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Cherokee High School names Shawn DiVece as head football coach
