Head Coach's and Stafford Football Philosophy

Stafford Football's overall goal and motivation in coaching is to develop pride in self, in our school, teach life lessons through sport, and develop productive citizens within their chosen community. And ultimately, young men that are willing to pay it forward within their families and the communities they reside.

High school football is a life lesson arena that offers students an opportunity to learn, connect with schoolmates, teachers, coaches, and the community in which they nurture. It is an arena to teach our youth the value of hard work, character, honor, pride, competition, teamwork, performing under pressure, and loyalty. The experience that our youth will be exposed to will allow for these qualities to blossom and/or develop and instill them into their daily lives. It gives our youth the chance to form bonds and relationships that are only formed from being part of a team and this game; and will last a lifetime.

While winning is important on the varsity football level, the main objective is teaching and having a positive impact in the life of our youth. If any of our student-athletes reach the highpoint of his life, while playing high school football, then I have failed as a coach. As a head coach, I would expect my players to make travels to much more important things when they are done playing the game. What I love to witness of former students and players that our youth becomes a better man or woman as part of going through the football program; one day being a good citizen, husband or wife, and father or mother.

As for my philosophy for teaching the game of football, I am a fundamentalist. The fundamentals should be worked on during every practice and pre-game routine, never to be overlooked. Besides the individual fundamental skills of the various positions, the game as a whole holds fundamental truths:

· Football is a physical and violent game. More times than not, the more physical team will win.

· Stafford Football believes in running the football and stopping the run, again these things lead back to establishing a level of physicality. Also stopping what the opponent does best or wishes to do.

• Stafford Football believes in having a balanced passing attack; throwing the ball without becoming too much of a finesse football team.

· Stafford Football's primary belief and expectation of our players is this: It does not take one ounce of God given ability to give 100 percent effort.

• "Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment, full effort is full victory."--Mahatma Gandhi
• "I never blame failures – there are too many complicated situations in life, but I am absolutely merciless toward lack of effort."--F. Scott Fitzgerald

EDUCATION

University of Scranton (online), Scranton, PA—2007-2010

• Masters of Science in Educational Administration

Mercyhurst University, Erie, PA—1988-1995

• BA in Accounting: May 1993
• Certificate in Business Education May 1995

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Stafford Senior High School, Stafford, VA--2016-Present

Brooke Point High School, Stafford, VA—1998-2016

Spotsylvania High School, Spotsylvania, VA—1995-1998

Mercyhurst Preparatory School, Erie, PA—1993-1994 (Substitute Teacher)

COACHING EXPERIENCE

Stafford Senior High School, Stafford, VA--2016-Present

• Region 5D Coach of the Year, 2017
• Region 5D Champions, 2017
• Special Teams Coordinator
• Offensive Line Coach
• Defensive Line Coach

Brooke Point High School, Stafford, VA—1998-2016

Interim Head Varsity Football Coach (2013)

• Position Responsibilities
  • Defensive Line Coach—2001-2016
    • Assistant Offensive Line Coach
  • Defensive Backs Coach—2000 & 2014
    • Assistant Wide Receivers Coach
  • Wide Receivers Coach—1998-1999
    • Assistant Defensive Backs Coach
• Junior Varsity and Freshman Basketball, 1998-2007, 2009, 2013-2016

Spotsylvania High School, Spotsylvania, VA—1995-1998

Junior Varsity Football 1996-1997

• Defensive Coordinator
• Special Teams Coordinator
• 1996 JV Football District Champions
• 1997 JV Football District Runner-up's

Junior Varsity Basketball 1995-1998

Junior Varsity Baseball 1996-1997

Mercyhurst Preparatory School, Erie, PA—1992-1995

Varsity Football Coach

• Special Teams Coordinator
• Linebackers Coach
• AA Metro Champions--1993

Mercyhurst University, Erie, PA—April 1992-May 1992

Spring Football Defensive Backs Coach