North Jersey is home to some of the finest coaches in the state. Here’s a look at 11 candidates in the running for this year’s North Jersey Coach of the Year:

Dan Sabella, Paramus Catholic (9-2)
The Paladins finished 3-6 in 2015 and did not qualify for the state playoffs. Sabella, who is in his first year at Paramus Catholic after having success at both Bogota and Paramus, has guided the program to a 9-2 record, the No. 1 seed in Non-Public Group 4 and now will take on St. Peter’s Prep in the Non-Public Group 4 state final.

D.J. Nimphius, River Dell (9-2)
There was not much returning varsity experience coming back for the Golden Hawks, but the program hasn’t missed a beat under Nimphius this season. Their offense is averaging 37.4 points per game, the most ever by a River Dell team, and their defense shut out Ramapo in the second half to secure their fourth straight trip to the North 1, Group 3 final.

Dennis Hard, Westwood (9-2)
It has taken Hard just two seasons to get the Cardinals back to the North 1, Group 2 final since taking over for Vito Campanile. Westwood will enter its sectional final at 9-2 and riding an eight-game win streak. That streak started one week following a 21-20 overtime loss to River Dell, a North 1, Group 3 finalist.

Brian Dunn, NV/Old Tappan (9-2)
The Golden Knights took some big hits to graduation from last year’s undefeated North 1, Group 4 sectional champion team, including the loss of Jordan Fuller (now at Ohio State), but Dunn has guided NV/Old Tappan to this year’s North 1, Group 3 final after knocking off top-seeded Sparta last week. It will enter the final on a seven-game win streak.

Augie Hoffmann, St. Joseph (8-2)
Hoffmann will be in search of first career state title when the Green Knights take on DePaul in the Non-Public, Group 3 final. The Record’s No. 1-ranked non-public team has also knocked off both Non-Public, Group 4 finalists — St. Peter’s Prep and Paramus Catholic — and will enter the state championship on a five-game win streak.

Jeff Remo, Mahwah (10-1)
The Thunderbirds ended a 35-year state title drought at MetLife Stadium last season and now are back in the North 1, Group 2 final seeking a repeat under Remo. This coming after losing 16 seniors from last year’s team, including The Record Offensive Player of the Year, QB James Ciliento.

Rob Gentile, Fair Lawn (7-3)
From 2010-2015, Fair Lawn went a combined 11-47. Rob Gentile was hired this off-season and immediately turned the Cutters in a state playoff team for the first time since 2009 and only third time since 2000. Fair Lawn went 7-2 in the regular season before falling to West Morris in the first round of the North 1, Group 4 playoffs.

Bill Straub, Fort Lee (7-3)
Under Straub, Fort Lee enjoyed its best season since 1985 with its 7-3 mark. They reached the state playoffs as the No. 6 seed in North 2, Group 2 before falling to eventual state finalist Lenape Valley in the first round. The seven wins marked the most since that ’85 team.

Nick Delcalzo, Hasbrouck Heights (10-0)
Delcalzo has guided the Aviators to the North 1, Group 1 final with 10 straight wins, including capturing the inaugural NJIC championship this season. Hasbrouck Heights will take on New Milford in the sectional final seeking its first undefeated season since 2007, when the program finished 12-0.

Mike Hinchcliffe, Harrison (5-4)
Not since 1989 had the Blue Tide qualified for the state playoffs, but Hinchcliffe, in his first year as head coach with the program, led Harrison to five wins and a berth in Central, Group 2 as the No. 7 seed. In those five wins, one came against North 1, Group 1 finalist New Milford, 35-28, on Oct. 21.

Sean O’Connor, Dwight-Englewood (5-5)
Dwight-Englewood won five games in 2014 and 2015 combined. O’Connor came in and won five in 2016 alone, and two of his five losses came by one point, including one to Ramsey and one to North 1, Group 2 finalist Westwood, 21-20, on Oct. 28.