By RICH FISHER
Contributing Editor
When Beth Fitzpatrick walked into the Notre Dame High, Lawrenceville gym on Nov. 25 – the first official day of basketball practice in New Jersey – it was as if she had clicked her ruby red Adidas three times and said, “There’s no place like home.”
“It’s come full circle,” said the 1987 ND grad, who is beginning her first season as the Irish girls head coach. “I love to be here. Last night I couldn’t even sleep. Today felt like Christmas morning. My experience at Notre Dame was so special and positive, it shaped me in all aspects of my life. The community service, the family, the mentors I had as coaches – that all shaped the coach I am.
“To come back; it just feels so right,” she continued. “My daughter Cameron took her entrance exam, and they had a parent meeting I went to. Then I sat in the gym, and I was shooting around. It was emotional for me. It’s my new haven.”
It’s a haven her entire family has basked in.
Fitzpatrick’s father, Vince Ardery, was the school’s long-time athletic director/baseball coach in the 1970s and 80s. He went to Trenton Catholic Boys High School and met his wife, Barbara, at a dance while she was a Notre Dame sophomore.
After playing soccer and basketball, Beth graduated with her husband, Sean (a soccer player), in 1987; although romantic sparks did not fly until later in life. Her sister, Kelly Nitti, and brother, Vince Ardery Jr., both played sports for the Irish. Her daughter Brynn played for the soccer team and Cameron is an eighth grader in waiting.
“My whole family is so excited about this,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s a big thing for all of them.”
A parishioner at Mary, Mother of the Church Parish, Bordentown, much of Fitzpatrick’s faith was shaped at ND and she embraced it for a lifetime.
“It’s the fabric of life for me and who I am,” she said. “Faith and religion were part of Notre Dame as I grew up and it’s just what I continue to lean on. It’s about respect and integrity and being loyal and having faith. A big thing for us this year is to be a team – together, everyone achieves more.”
Fitzpatrick takes over for James Martinos, who stepped down after a long, successful run.
Fitzpatrick has over 30 years of coaching experience, getting her first job in 1991 as Hightstown High’s head girls basketball coach. In 1992, she became head basketball coach and assistant soccer coach at Hopewell Valley High for seven years before running the West Windsor-Plainsboro South basketball program from 1999-2004. In 2000-01 WWPS set a school record with 22 wins.
In recent years she has been an assistant for WWPS basketball and Notre Dame soccer. Fitzpatrick also had success coaching St. Mary’s in CYO basketball, guiding both the boys and girls teams to the Burlington County CYO titles and the Diocesan Tournament finals. She is in the CYO and Notre Dame halls of fame.
The program Beth inherits went 16-11 last year and graduated four seniors while five varsity players return.
“I knew a little about the team before I got the job,” said Fitzpatrick, who will continue to teach at WWPS. “I know about the girls coming back. I know Notre Dame is competitive, they play hard. The girls are tough and gritty. When I went in today, I told them ‘Here we go. We are all starting off together and we have this great opportunity to grow together with each other.’”
The coaching staff includes ND boys soccer/girls lacrosse coach Bryan Fisher as varsity assistant, ND grad Carla Maccaroni as JV coach and former Hopewell Valley High standout Allie Oldfield as freshman coach.
“It’s a great staff,” Fitzpatrick said “They all love Notre Dame as much as I do. I love the administration, and I feel so blessed they brought me in. Nate (Weber, athletic director), our principal Michelle Martinez and (president) Ken Jennings; I can’t thank them enough.”
The place Fitzpatrick is most thankful for, is the office where she will ply her craft.
“It’s a great gym, I love it,” she said. “It’s bright, it’s exciting. It’s one of my favorite places. To be able to be back there, it’s tough to describe.”