In a half century at St. Anthony's, Hall of Fame basketball coach Bob Hurley has won at an almost unparalleled level in high school.
Twenty-eight New Jersey state titles. Four national championships. More than 150 of his players went on to Division I basketball, with almost a dozen making the NBA. His sons played for the Friars and followed their father's path - they are head coaches at Rhode Island and Arizona State.
This school, in the shadow of New York City, has been a haven to the urban poor seeking a Roman Catholic education. And it could all end in 24 hours or so.
The decades-long battle to keep St. Anthony's afloat has been burdened by declining enrollment and rising costs.
Hurley and school officials will meet Wednesday with the Archdiocese of Newark, which oversees the administration of the school. Hurley, the resignation in his voice clear, senses the outcome.
"It's like anything," he said. Tuesday. "I am going to be 70 years old and have been there for 50 years. The numbers are very difficult to work out."
Hurley is a former Hudson County probation officer who is president of the school. He said it costs the school $14,000 to educate each student. Tuition is $6,100, a big ask for many of the families.
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St. Anthony's doesn't have a gym and must rent one in the downtown area. But the school does have a 100 percent college acceptance for seniors the past two decades.
The archdiocese has set guidelines for next year. It wants the school to raise $300,000, have at least 200 students and raise tuition $500. Enrollment is 160 and fundraising is a struggle. Hurley planned to attend a dinner Tuesday night for an organization that has been a long-time contributor.
Hurley says the future for Catholic education in urban areas isn't promising. There are, however, some Catholic schools that can charge students $16,000 or $17,000 annually and have no problem filling classes and building new facilities.
"There are not a lot of advocates for the underprivileged," Hurley said.
According to the school's website, the enrollment is 70 percent male and 70 percent African-American. Hispanic-Latino students make up 15 percent, while 9 percent are multiracial, and Caucasian and Asian each 3 percent.
Bobby Hurley, the former Duke star who went onto the NBA and now coaches at Arizona State, said the fight to keep St. Anthony's alive has been going on for years.
"Every year, they've always found a way," he said. "Based on everything I hear, it's not looking great. We always knew how dire the situation was. They always continued to find a way to do it. There was always a threat at any time it could close. I want to be hopeful, but I also know what they're up against. My dad has tried to help St. Anthony so much over the years. It's really hurtful to think it may be over."
If the ride does end, Bob Hurley wants to give clinics to grammar-school children and possibly help eighth-grade players transition to the move to high school.
"I'm still going to hold on," Hurley said. "We'll see how this all plays out."
Whatever happens, Hurley senses his accomplishments almost daily, and it goes beyond titles and more than 1,100 coaching wins.
"Basically, there isn't a day that I don't run across somebody who graduated from school here," he said. "I think the people who went there, St. Anthony's, have strong values, maybe not Catholic, but Christian in their approach to others.
"I think it has been a great place. People know about the six kids or so from basketball each year, but we have been graduating 50, 60, 70 people each year who are going out into the world prepared for the next step."
