Coach Patrick Brunner amassed 209 victories with the Boys Basketball team, trailing only Bengal legends George Cella and Bill Foley. His teams averaged 16 wins a year, the most of any male cager coach at BHS. His career total of 320 wins places him among the elite in New Jersey history.

Coach Brunner led the Boys Basketball program to the 2017 NJSIAA Sectional Championship, Bloomfield’s first since the Kelly Tripucka led 1977 squad. A Coach of the Year on both the County and Statewide level, he saw three of his athletes, Jamil Goodwin, Jameel Patterson, and Michael Ramos pass the 1000-point plateau.

Pat also served as an assistant for the Boys Track & Field squad that captured a Sectional Team Title in 2009, their first since the celebrated 1969 contingent.

As an athlete Patrick was an All-Area hoopster in high school and All-NJAC while at Montclair State University.

Pat currently serves as the Athletic Director at Morris Knolls High School, but Bloomfield will always be home thanks to the relationships he built while a Bengal.

Coach lists his father as his most influential role model. He must certainly be looking down with pride at all his son has accomplished.

Bob Fetterly was a senior guard on Bloomfield’s last Group IV Boys Basketball Championship team. The Bengals defeated Ewing 75-66 in the final game. Bob joins teammates Bob Byars, Paul Lape, Pat Sibilia and Todd Tripucka and Coaches George Cella and Joe Moore in the Bloomfield High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
A pillar of the community, Bob served on the Town Council from 1983-1993. His contributions to his hometown extend much further, including serving as a Coach of CYO Basketball at Sacred Heart Parish, a founding member of the Sunset Classic 5-Mile Race, 5th Quarter Club president, a Lions Club officer, and a founder of the Bloomfield Educational Foundation.
Bob’s philanthropy and mentoring have been shared with all Bengal athletics teams; however, basketball holds a special place for him. Most recently, Bob and HOF member Jeff Lichter have established a scholarship that is funded by the annual Basketball Alumni Preseason Socials, which bring together Bengals of all eras in support of the current Boys and Girls programs.
Bob cherishes memories of Bengal basketball games and the annual Thanksgiving Day football clashes with Montclair.
He wishes to thank Coach Roland Foster for the positive impact he made in his life, and the love of community he instilled in him.

The 1991 Athlete of the Year at BHS, Jermain earned varsity letters in football, wrestling and baseball. An All-League selection in baseball, it was the gridiron on which he made his greatest impact, earning All-Essex accolades while leading the Bengals back to the playoffs after a 12-year hiatus.

He has been involved in the sport of football every year since graduating Bloomfield High School, first as a four-year starter at Montclair State University where he was named All-NJAC each season. Prior to embarking on a coaching career, he played in the Arena Football League from 1997-2004.

His coaching career began as an assistant at Bloomfield High School. He joined the head coaching fraternity first at Paterson Eastside, he then resuscitated a moribund program at Belleville. Jermain currently serves as the Head Coach of the Montclair Mounties.

Jermain’s laugh and infectious smile have been his trademark since his days at BHS. His passion for developing young men is second to none.

Jermain’s father Charles shaped the paths he has chosen and the man he is today.

Desiree McGhie was an integral part of a golden era of girls’ athletics at BHS – graduating in 1998. She accumulated a school record, twelve Varsity Letters. The ultimate team player, she led the Bengals to the Essex County Championship in soccer, basketball and softball, captaining each sport.

A remarkable athlete, she transitioned from volleyball to soccer. In her first season on the pitch, she amassed 255 saves in goal, a new program standard.

Desiree earned a full athletic scholarship to St. Josephs in Philadelphia where she played Division I Softball. She made an immediate positive impact earning numerous accolades including 1^st Team All-Region and All-ECAC selections. She is a member of the prestigious 100 Hit Club at St. Joes.

She joins spouse Anthony Lambo, (’96) in the BHS Hall of Fame, only the second husband and wife both enshrined, joining Patricia Gibson Carter and Robert L. Carter.

Desiree considers herself blessed that her parents promoted athletics but emphasized academics instilling the values of hard work, perseverance, and integrity, while always doing so with love and empathy.

Michelle Reilly was an All-County selection in three sports: soccer, basketball and softball. She attained All-State status in softball. She led the Bengals to championships in each sport. She and classmate and fellow inductee Desiree McGhie were a formidable duo.

Before the era of specialization, Michelle excelled in each season. She still ranks in the Bloomfield High School top five in career goals in soccer and career hits in softball. As a senior she set a school record for hits in a season with 48 (in just 30 games), and batting average .511.

An honor roll student, she earned scholarships from the Bloomfield Chapter of Unico and the Bloomfield Girls Athletic League. She was named the Brian Piccolo Award winner.

Michelle found role models among the older teammates she played with, who welcomed her into the program and nurtured her talent.

Athletics and fitness still play a key role in Michelle’s career as a certified personal trainer and spin instructor.

In the illustrious history of Bengal Baseball, few pitchers can match Anthony Sarno’s accomplishments. A 1981 graduate, he helped Bloomfield capture a Sectional title in his junior year. He followed up with a stellar senior campaign that saw him named All-County and All-Group IV. Anthony struck out a remarkable 122 batters in just 82 innings, leading Essex County in K’s.

A workhorse, he won seven games and had eleven complete games. In the days before pitch counts, he went the distance in an 11-inning battle with Hackensack and 12 innings in the Greater Newark Tournament Semifinals versus Belleville. In the 23 innings, he totaled over 400 pitches.

He continued his baseball career at County College of Morris and Monmouth University, earning All-League status at each school. He was drafted by the New York Yankees in 1983. While playing Minor League ball in Oneonta, New York, he teamed with several future major leaguers including Roberto Kelly and Al Leiter.  His love of baseball never waned. He competed in the Metropolitan League for many years, authoring the only No-Hitter in that notoriously strong hitting circuit.

In Anthony’s words his most influential role models are “a no-brainer”, Mom Pat and Dad Tony. The Sarno name is synonymous with Baseball and Softball in Bloomfield. Anthony joins his sister Denise (’87) and Father Tony (’51) in the Hall of Fame.

Anthony remains friends with many of his classmates, some of whom are here to share his accomplishments.

Kristjan Sokoli, class of 2010, was an All-County and All-Group-IV lineman for Hall of Fame Coach Mike Carter. Remarkably agile for a man his size, Kris accepted a football scholarship to the University of Buffalo. A team captain, he played nose tackle at UB, often occupying multiple blockers which allowed future NFL standout Khalil Mack to roam freely at linebacker.

His play earned him All-MAC status and the attention of National Football League scouts. He was drafted in the 6^th round by Seattle, becoming the first athlete of Albanian heritage in league history. His NFL career has included stints with the Seahawks and Colts. He is currently a member of the Houston Roughnecks of the United Football League.

Kristjan was perhaps even more accomplished as a Track & Field athlete at BHS, competing in the shot put and discus for Hall of Fame Coach Howard Friedman. Kris and partner Emeka Ndichie formed the best shot put relay tandem in school history. Individually Kris won five County or Sectional titles and twice placed in the top six in the Meet of Champions discus throw.

Kristjan is grateful to all that contributed to his success, most notably Edmir Sokoli who made the most profound impact.