Retiring High School Coach: Chandler Cup an 'Honor'

Students and alumni showed their support and appreciation for Robert Chandler, a coach and teacher at who is battling pancreatic cancer and is retiring from the district after 30 years, by playing a soccer tournament in his honor on Wednesday afternoon.

Under sunny skies with temperatures in the 90s, 25 teams of six players faced off on the artificial turf field at the high school. Chandler and members of his family were on hand for the event, and students and graduates thanked Chandler and wished him the best in his retirement.

Organizers said they thought the "Chandler Cup" was a fitting tribute for Chandler, who won two state championships in his tenure as varsity soccer coach.

"It's a nice honor," said Chandler, a Millburn resident.

He said he loves the community, the school and most of all the students, and said his family and students are what keep him going. He thanked Athletic Office secretary Nancy Willis and soccer coach Kevin Lynott for helping organize and run the event.

In addition to coaching the varsity boys soccer team, Chandler coached varsity baseball and basketball, winning a sectional championship in baseball and qualifying for the state tournament several times in basketball.

The years the teams didn't bring home titles are successes in Chandler's book, too.

"They did the best they could," he said. "That's sometimes as good as winning the championship."

Students and colleagues said Chandler—who taught physical education, driver's ed, health and first aid—holds students and athletes to high standards and earns their respect.

High school hockey coach Joe Cecala, a 2005 graduate who had Chandler as a baseball coach, competed in the tournament Wednesday.

"Chandler was just all around the kind of guy you wanted to listen to," Cecala said. "He made every student feel like they were more of a peer than anything else."

Graduate Deleon Helvert said Chandler was an important and positive figure in his life.

"He's like a dad," Helvert said. "He's like the best coach I ever had. He's like a hero to me."