Jim Walsh, and Kevin Minnick

The Courier-Post

WILLINGBORO - A longtime South Jersey football coach is facing criminal charges.

Reggie Lawrence, hired last month to coach at Haddon Heights High School, allegedly pocketed money intended for student activities at Willingboro High School, where he teaches history, authorities said Wednesday.

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The 46-year-old Mount Laurel man was arrested Friday on a charge of theft by deception, Willingboro police Lt. Chris Vetter said.

Lawrence, a member of the South Jersey Football Hall of Fame, was released on bail the same day.

Vetter said school officials had brought a complaint against Lawrence, alleging he stole funds in his role as a senior class adviser. The money was supposed to cover the cost of student activities.

Lawrence was initially accused of taking more than $14,500, but he returned some funds, Vetter said. About $2,900 is still missing.

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The status of his employment in Haddon Heights and Willingboro could not be determined Wednesday.

Lawrence earns $90,930 annually at Willingboro High, according to state pension records. The Haddon Heights school board approved his hiring on a voluntary basis for the 2015-16 school year and for $8,200 in the 2016-17 school year.

Lawrence took the Haddon Heights position after spending two years as an assistant coach at Burlington City High School.

“I’m very excited,” he said in an interview with the Courier-Post last month. “This is an opportunity to develop a program for the long run.”

“I feel like I have eight to 10 more years,” he added. “This is the last place I plan on coaching.”

Lawrence previously was head coach at Willingboro High from 2009-13 and directed teams before that at Pennsauken (2003-08), Jackson (2000-02) and Camden High (1996-98).

Lawrence, with a 108-49 career record, has led teams to two South Jersey championships and nine conference titles.

A star athlete at Camden High School, Lawrence was a wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1993.

Jim Walsh: (856) 486-2646; jwalsh@gannettnj.com