Volleyball Coach At St. Joe’s Metuchen Picks Up 500th Career Victory

METUCHEN, NJ — Saint Joseph High School volleyball coach Miguel Cabrita earned reached a historic milestone during the Falcons’ victory over East Brunswick on Friday.

The 19-year head coach picked up his 500th career victory at the school. Cabrita is the first coach in school history to achieve this accomplishment.

“I never imagined that 35 years ago when I first stepped onto the volleyball court as a student at Saint Joe's, that I would end up loving this sport so much,” Cabrita said in a statement.

“Returning to coach at my alma mater was a dream come true. The past 19 years as head coach have been an absolute blur. I am blessed to work with the best student-athletes that a coach could ask for. Reaching 500 wins would have been impossible without their support. I am honored to be a part of the Saint Joseph Volleyball Community and am looking forward to the continued success of our program and our individual athletes.”

Cabrita graduated from Saint Joe's in 1991. He continued his playing career at Rutgers University and then returned to the school as an assistant coach from 1994-2004. He helped lead the Falcons to their first state title in 2002.

After being named head coach in 2005, Cabrita went on to lead the Falcons to two state championships – in 2006 and 2008 - in his first four seasons.

Since 2008, Cabrita has led Saint Joe’s to three more NJSIAA State Section Championships - 2010, 2011 and 2013 - with three section second-place finishes (2009, 2016, 2022).

“I have absolutely loved watching our young men with little to no experience step into the gym and transform into these impressive volleyball athletes not only during their time at Saint Joe's but also in college and beyond,” Cabrita said.

During his career, Cabrita has accumulated several coaching accolades including the NJSIAA Coach of the Year (2008), Greater Middlesex Coach of the Year (2008, 2013, 2022), Home News Tribune Coach of the Year (2008, 2013, 2014) and the Newark Star-Ledger Coach of the Year (2009).

School President John G. Nolan, Jr., praised Cabrita for his achievement, calling him the "ultimate Saint Joseph Falcon.”

“His tireless work ethic and commitment to the school and, specifically, the volleyball program is the reason why Saint Joe’s continues to thrive each and every day. On behalf of the Board of Directors, school leadership and Partners in Mission, I congratulate Miguel on this fantastic accomplishment,” Nolan said.

“His name has become synonymous with volleyball, not only at Saint Joe’s, but across New Jersey. We are blessed to have him as a member of our Saint Joe’s family and can’t wait to celebrate this once-in-a-generation milestone.”

Cabrita is also Saint Joe’s Assistant Principal and Director of Admissions, a role he’s had since 2017. He previously held numerous positions including Assistant Principal/Dean of Students, Director of Alumni and Development and teacher.

“Miguel Cabrita's dedication to Saint Joseph High School is evident by how he works tirelessly to provide a culture of excellence for our students,” High School Principal Anne Rivera said. “We congratulate him on this outstanding achievement and wish him continued success.”

Cabrita was an assistant coach for the Rutgers University Women’s Volleyball team, as well as the head coach for the Rutgers Men’s Club Volleyball team. He also coached several high school girls volleyball programs, including J.P. Stevens High School (assistant), The Wardlaw-Hartridge School (head coach), Rutgers Preparatory School (head coach) and West Windsor-Plainsboro (head coach). He was honored as the Coach of the Year at West Windsor-Plainsboro and helped the team earn their first conference championship.

To celebrate Cabrita's achievement, Saint Joe's will be hosting a ceremony before the volleyball match vs. Old Bridge on Tuesday, May 2.

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