Det. Sgt. Robert Crudele (Harrison Police Department) is a freelance sports journalist who covers high school sports outside The Observer's coverage area.

Bobby Crudele comes from a family that has deep roots in Jersey City and Belleville and as a kid moved to North Arlington. After living in Jersey City for a decade as an adult, Bobby met his wife Kara and eventually bought a house in North Arlington where he currently resides and raises his 3 children. Bobby has served honorably as a Sergeant in the Harrison Police department for 25 years.   His deep love of sports rose out of I growing up on the playground, spending most of his entire youth playing some sport every day continuing into adulthood.   It didn’t matter if is was basketball, football or softball, if there was an adult league Bobby played and did it like it was his job all because his love for the games. 

At some point that love turned into a passion to coach. Bobby started coaching baseball in Belleville in the 1990s, followed by some basketball in the early 2000s. But over the past 15 years Bobby was the president of boys recreation and travel basketball in North Arlington. At the same time he was a coach for the junior vikings football program as well as its League representative at the Meadowlands Football League. After stepping down from basketball to put all his time into junior football he was named Vice President of football eventually taking over as President. Bobby has coached just about every position for the junior vikings senior level, eventually becoming its long time defensive coordinator as well as head coach.  Bobby has collaborated with some of the best coaches in North Jersey HS football and attended multiple coaching clinics. 

Bobby’s motto has always been, “ I may not be the most knowledgeable coach out there but I’ll never be out worked” that attitude has defined his coaching style and served his players well.