By Mike Dyer
Change
is a given in the coaching profession for many reasons and
nowhere will that be more apparent than on the sidelines of
football stadiums all across Greater Cincinnati this fall.
The
changes have produced a mixed bag of scenarios; with older,
experienced coaches taking over in new places; new,
less-experienced coaches taking over the reigns from older,
more experienced coaches. With change comes immense
challenges and various formulas for success as some of the
following coaches will attest to.
Big Shoes To Fill
Tom
Bolden won’t apologize for wearing a long sleeve shirt when
the weather turns frigid later in the fall. That is just one
of the differences for the new Colerain football coach this
year.
Bolden
succeeds longtime coach Kerry Coombs, who left after 16
seasons to become the University of Cincinnati defensive
backs coach. Coombs, who led Colerain to the 2004 Division I
state title, used to be known for wearing short sleeved
shirts on the sideline during playoff games when the
temperature had dropped considerably from the beginning of
the season.
“Someone asked the other day about (Coombs’ trademark),”
Bolden said. “(Someone asked) ‘are you going to smart enough
to know hot outside and cold outside?’”
Bolden
is smart enough to know his first year will be among the
most-watched of the new coaches around the area. Coombs had
a 161-34 record in 16 seasons at Colerain. He was possibly
the most recognized high school coaching personality on the
West Side and arguably in all of Cincinnati. Bolden
realizes that, but he has own style. He admits 90 percent of
his operation will be the same, but the other 10 percent
will have Bolden’s stamp.
“A lot
of things will make him a good coach,” Coombs said. “He has
great confidence in his ability. He’s a Colerain kid and a
homegrown boy. He has a lot of support of the community
already built in.”
Bolden,
37, was offensive coordinator last season and was
quarterback and fullbacks coach for five years prior to
that.
“I have
probably been busier than I have ever been,” Bolden said. “I
always call it a good busy. The kids are working really
hard. Our slogan last year was “Tradition of Excellence.”
This year it is the “Tradition of Excellence Continues.”
The
Cardinals were 13-1 finished No. 23 nationally by USA Today
in 2006. “We’re approaching things like they aren’t broke,
so don’t fix it,” Bolden said. The biggest void will be
replacing defensive back Eugene Clifford, who has signed
with
Ohio
State.
However, Bolden said there could be 11 scholarship players.
As of late June, several players were fielding interest from
colleges including cornerback Ravelle Sadler (offers from
Ball State, Ohio University, Eastern Michigan and Central
Michigan) and running back Dominique Sherrer (offer from
Eastern Michigan), according to Bolden. Lineman Evan Davis
orally committed to UC earlier this year. Bolden said Doug
Reynolds will return as the quarterback.
“The
kids are working hard; they know the challenge and
expectations they are presented with,” Bolden said. “People
talk about how we’re not going to be good because Kerry left
- the kids somewhat take offense to that.”
Bolden,
a physical education teacher, also wants a chance to prove
himself as a coach. A 1988 Colerain graduate, he played
quarterback for the Cardinals and played at Wittenberg for
years. He also played baseball for two years in college.
“Obviously there is a lot pressure when you are following a
coaching legend,” Bolden said. “I haven’t stepped back from
much. I’d be a liar if I told you there wasn’t pressure.
Being there as an assistant, I feel pretty well groomed for
it, that we are ready to roll. I’m just looking at it as a
new challenge.”
Coombs
said Bolden has a solid foundation with the program and said
if the new coach wants help he hopes he could be a resource
with procedural questions.
“I miss
the people at Colerain,” Coombs said. He added he would pay
attention to the Cardinals, “every spare minute I can.” But,
Coombs said he would never interfere.
“It
feels completely (different) because I’m just a high school
football coach in a different offense,” Coombs said. “It
feels really odd to be not focusing on all the high school
things.”
Third Time as First-Year Head Coach
David
Sedmak
is no stranger to understanding the difficulties of being a
first-year head football coach.
It’s
the third time the new Mason coach has been in his first
season with a program. Prior to being the offensive line
coach at Hamilton last season, Sedmak coached in northeast
Ohio
where he was at
Shaker
Heights (1993-2005) and Beachwood (1990-1993).
“I’ve
learned that to do it the right way, it is virtually
round-the-clock once one is hired as the head coach,”
explains Sedmak.
The
24/7 mentality can be daunting for any new head coach, but
Sedmak said there are steps in order to stay organized and
focused before the first snap in August. He says it starts
with building relationships before the season. That begins
with the initial meeting with the team where he explains his
philosophy, expectations and goals. He offers background on
his coaching career and spends 15-30 minutes with each
player in order to create a better relationship.
Sedmak,
who succeeds Gary Popovich, meets with parents and boosters
to explain his views in a similar way, but he said a
first-year coach must realize not all parties will agree
with every angle.
“One
cannot please everybody, nor should he try, but at the same
time he must realize that coaches, parents and players are
involved in other activities and that’s a good thing,” he
says. “Balance is important.”
Sedmak
said it’s important for a first-year coach to budget his
time because there can be daily meetings with athletic
department and school officials to determine the process of
how things operate at the school. He must select a new
coaching staff along with other administrative duties such
as requesting equipment and supplies. He also notes that
it’s important to encourage the younger grades and create a
system in which the middle school program will help prepare
players for the high school level.
Besides
just learning about a player, a coach is expected to help
with the creation of recruiting videos to various colleges.
All
things considered, Sedmak says making a budget for his time
is a priority since there always seems to be something else
to do at the school.
“I am
very excited about the approaching season,” he says. “Last
season was the first in over 20 years that I (was) not a
head coach of some sport and it was the first in nine years
that I did not double as athletic director. Thus, it was
good…that I had a chance to back off the stress and pressure
for a little while, re-charging myself in the process. At
the same time, it created the hunger to again be in charge
and to lead a program, which I believe it’s what I do best.”
New
Position in a
Familiar Place
Jeff
Giesting is quite familiar with his school community at
Anderson. Giesting, 45, succeeded Vince Suriano, who left
after 20 years to become an assistant head coach/offensive
coordinator at Mount St. Joseph. Giesting was an assistant
for Suriano for 19 seasons at
Anderson.
“I
guess the major difference is the increase in phone calls
and e-mails and the communication you have when you are in
charge of a whole program,” says Giesting of becoming a head
coach.
Giesting says there are five new assistants at Anderson, but
his staff along with athletic director Pam Scott and Suriano
have been helpful in the transition.
“Managing my time better is more of a challenge,” he
explains. “The transition has been very smooth (but there
is) a lot of responsibility.”
First-year coaches can expect to put in as much as 60 to 80
hours a week, according to Suriano.
“I
think Jeff will do great,” says Suriano. “He is
well-organized and well-prepared. He is a good person that
really cares about kids.”
As a
first-year high school coach, Suriano said he emulated
former coaches in trying to implement a plan. The pressure
to succeed has increased over the years, he adds.
“It has
become tougher over the years because there is so much more
going on with year-around (college) recruiting, clinics and
summer camps,” Suriano says. “Also, the fact that we now
have seven-on-seven passing tournaments to go along with our
summer weight training and conditioning; sometimes there are
not enough hours in the day.”
First Time Ever
Chris
MacFarland can relate to the new demands as the new Western
Hills coach. Unlike Sedmak, the Mustangs’ position is
MacFarland’s first head coaching position. The Mustangs went
3-7 last season.
MacFarland was an assistant at Aiken last season, but spent
much of his coaching career in northwest
Ohio
and
South
Carolina
prior to arriving in Cincinnati.
“I
think I am in a great position,” McFarland says. “There is a
ton of talent and the facilities are improving. It has the
ingredients to be a powerhouse in the future.”
McFarland says he has taken notice of the differences
between an assistant and head coach, but adds that this fall
won’t be all about wins and loses.
For
starters, he wants to build the foundation at the high
school and at the youth level.
“The
other thing that has been real hectic has been putting staff
together,” he explains. “Running, lifting, ordering
uniforms and eligibility
─
obviously now that’s on my shoulders. Before I coached a
position. (Now) I deal with all things, like meeting with
the administration.”
Experienced Coach in a New Place
John
Rodenberg isn’t a new head coach, but he knows the demands,
especially at the Greater Catholic League level. Rodenberg,
42, is the new Roger Bacon coach after coaching at Covington
Catholic and McNicholas in recent years. He won a state
title with the Colonels last season. Rodenberg says he is
looking forward to the challenges of the GCL.
“I am
not going into a program that was losing,” Rodenberg says.
“They just steadied out at 5-5, 6-4 (records). I am going to
continue to bring the success that Dan (Starkey) brought,
maybe with a new punch.”
Rodenberg has liked the turnout he saw in the early summer
as a positive sign for the upcoming season. “It’s fun to be
back in the league,” he says.
Other New Coaches For ‘07
Steve
Sheehan is coming out of retirement to lead the program at
Clark Montessori.
Patrick
Fagan,
Milford,
Takes over a program that went 2-8 last season and moves to
the Fort Ancient Valley Conference.
Eric
Taylor, Finneytown, The former wrestling coach takes over
for Dave Brossart, who replaces John Rodenberg at Covington
Catholic.
Mike
Shafer, Little Miami, The former
Madeira
coach replaces Randy Gray.
Gerald
Warmack takes over at Shroder.
Newport:
Jim Hyder replaces John Schlarman.
Conner:
David Trosper replaces Tom Stellman.
Covington
Catholic: Dave Brossart replaces John Rodenberg.
Holmes:
Stephen Lickert takes over the helm from David Trosper.
Dayton:
Zach Deaton takes over for Stephen Lickert.
Lloyd –
Mike Yeagle returns after a 2-year hiatus from coaching to
run the Juggernauts’ program after a legendary career at
Beechwood.
