Central Regional Coach Recognized By NJ Boxing Hall Of Fame

LACEY, NJ — The New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame has named Shawn Darling, the owner of Gladiator Gym in Lacey and a wrestling coach at Central Regional, as "Coach of the Year."

Darling's gym specializes in boxing and kickboxing with individual classes for all ages. Gladiator Gym is affiliated with USA Boxing, the national governing body for Olympic-style amateur boxing.

Darling has coached professional boxers like Chris "Sandman" Thomas and "Quick" Nick Valliere, as well as teenage athletes who went on to become national champions. Robert McCarthy, of Lacey, medaled three times winning the National Silver Gloves in 2010, and Jon Maddux, of Lacey, medaled four times winning the Collegiate Nationals in 2012 and 2013.

The New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame's "Coach of the Year" award for amateur boxing started in 1996. This year's award recognizes Darling’s talents at mentoring young boxers both inside and outside the ring.

“Shawn has been one of our top coaches for years,” said Henry Hascup, president of the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame. “He not only teaches young boxers how to box but he also acts like a father figure to many of them, which is far more important. He prepares them for adulthood, on how to conduct themselves even when the decision doesn't go their way.”

Coaching young athletes comes second nature to Darling who also began his athletic career in high school. He competed in track and wrestling for Central Regional High School, where he now works as a wrestling coach in addition to running Gladiator Gym full-time.

“Being 'Coach of the Year' is something I was working for and hoping for a long time. It’s a huge honor,” Darling said. “It’s going to be there in the history books forever and something my great, great grandkids will be able to look back and see that their grandfather succeeded in his chosen sport.”

Darling said he became an Atlantic County corrections officer at age 21 around the time he started boxing as a hobby. When word got out about his skills, he started teaching the sport at the Atlantic County Police Academy.

While Darling was coaching at the police academy, several police officers in Lacey approached him to ask if he would consider giving private boxing lessons to their sons.

“Next thing I know, I have 10 kids training in my garage. I decided to open a gym and see how it goes, and 16 years later, it’s going phenomenal,” Darling said.

He retired from his law enforcement career in 2012, enabling him to run his gym full-time and travel for sparring and tournaments.

For many of his students, some of whom are considered at-risk youth, their one-on-one lessons together go far beyond learning the basics of the sport.

Darling believes boxing instills discipline in teens and teaches them how to work through adversity.

“I try to get them on the right path in life. I want them to succeed in boxing, but more importantly outside of boxing for the rest of their life,” he said. “I want them to go down the right route regardless of what type of family background they come from.”

Darling said his current group of amateurs may be one of Gladiator Gym’s best competing groups yet as they prepare for nationals in December.

Darling will be honored alongside other New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame inductees on Nov. 11 at The Venetian in Garfield.

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