Ed Stinson’s history with Mike Miello could be traced through several high school state tournament brackets: Stinson at the helm of powerful Hoboken, Miello at the reins of equally mighty Ramapo, the friends locked in an Xs and Os battle for sectional championships. When Miello became William Paterson’s head coach during the winter of 2004-05, it was only natural that he wanted Stinson to oversee his defense.
A veteran of 34 seasons on the high school scene, Stinson guided Hoboken, the school he played for and graduated from in 1965, to six state championships in 22 seasons (1977-80, 1987-2004). Most impressive was his 224-61 record, good for a winning percentage of .786. This included a streak of 67 victories in 68 games that stretched from 1994-2000.
Much of Stinson’s brilliance was exhibited on the defensive side of the ball, as Hoboken routinely blanked tough Hudson County teams with a tenacity not often seen in high school football. The Red Wings did so with his vaunted “50” defense, flying around and making the best-laid game plans go awry. That defensive expertise paid immediate dividends for the Pioneers. In Stinson’s first season in 2005, William Paterson was 12th in pass efficiency defense (91.1) and 41st in both total defense (286.8 yards/game) and scoring defense (17.5 points/game) in the national statistics. Last fall, the Pioneers tied for second in the conference, and tied for 29th nationally, with 17 interceptions as three of William Paterson’s defensive backs earned all-conference honors.
Although Stinson made a name for himself on the high school level – he also served stints at Park Ridge (1981-84) and Pascack Hills (1985-86) – he is no stranger to the college game or to William Paterson, as he was the Pioneers’ defensive coordinator from 1975-76. His coaching career began at New Jersey City University (then Jersey City State) in 1970 and lasted through 1973. Prior to coaching, he played at New Jersey City from 1967-69 and earned induction into the University’s Athletic Hall of Fame. At each of his stops, his methods for cultivating talent were impressive. Several of his former players earned Division I scholarships; one of his former players, Carlos Perez, was on the practice squad for the 2005 Super Bowl runner-up Philadelphia Eagles.
Stinson graduated from Jersey City State College in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in English education, and he completed a master’s in administration and supervision at Seton Hall University in 1975. A retired administrator from the Hoboken school system, he and his wife of 37 years, Marie, reside in Secaucus. They have four daughters -- Stacy, Marie, Kristen and Erin.