New law will let retired coaches return earlier

TRENTON (AP) — Retired New Jersey high school athletic coaches who want to continue coaching will be able to do so without having to wait six months and risk affecting their pensions.

A law signed by Gov. Chris Christie on Thursday was spurred by the case of a longtime Metuchen High School soccer coach who had wanted to return this fall. Ken Graf would have had to wait six months or else lose his pension.

Graf has been a teacher and boys' soccer coach at the Middlesex County school for 42 years.

The new law will allow retired coaches to return if they satisfy certain conditions, including that the pay for the job is less than $10,000 per year.

(Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)