John Conroy knows that the challenge ahead won’t be easy. The North Bergen native and former St. Peter’s Prep standout two-way lineman has taken over the head football coaching reins at Ferris High School, replacing Rich Glover, who had a tumultuous 1-8 season in his only year at the school.
“It’s definitely going to take a lot of hard work,” said Conroy, who had paid his dues as an assistant coach at Dickinson and later at Hillside, serving as the defensive coordinator for three years under former Jersey City coach John Power. “If the kids are willing to put the necessary time in, then it can work. I just need to get their confidence back.”
Ferris had an established and successful program under Wilbur Valdez, who was the coach of the Bulldogs for seven years before moving on last year to take over at Union City. Glover, the College Football Hall of Famer and former NFL player, moved from the defunct Dickinson program to Ferris to replace Valdez, but it wasn’t a good fit and the results showed on the field.
Now it’s up to Conroy to pick up the pieces and restore some of the pride in Ferris football.
“It absolutely can be done,” said Conroy, who graduated from St. Peter’s Prep in 1994. “[Former Ferris coach] Harry Lerner proved it could be done when I was in high school and Wilbur did a great job when he was there. There was a bit of a letdown last year, but we can bring it back. I can see the potential in the kids. I think this is a great opportunity.”
Conroy, who was appointed to the head coaching position four months ago, has already seen some signs of progress.
“The kids are excited,” Conroy said. “We’ve had about 40 to 45 kids coming in every day to the weight room. They’re always there. We have some good senior leadership leading the way. They want to be disciplined and want to learn. It’s a good group of kids.”
Conroy said that he’s implemented an option offense that the players have embraced and picked up pretty quickly.
“They’re still learning, but they’ve shown some good signs in some 7-on-7s we have played in at Union High School,” said Conroy, as his team has faced summer workouts against solid teams such as Union, Roselle, and Shabazz of Newark. “They want success.”
Conroy has been impressed with the play of his quarterback Elijah Blue, his running back/defensive back Sayveon Bumckley, and solid two-way lineman Rayshawn Washington, whom Conroy believes could develop into a top player.
“Rayshawn is about 6 feet tall and weighs about 340 pounds, but he can move well for his size,” Conroy said. “I like what I see so far in him.”
Conroy said that he’s blessed to have former Ferris player Juan Garcia serve as his quarterback coach. It’s helping the transition of putting the option offense into place.
“He played for Wilbur, so he knows also that it can be done here,” Conroy said.
Conroy has already lined up a competitive scrimmage schedule and the Bulldogs will then open the 2011 season Sept. 9 against local rival Lincoln at Caven Point Cochrane Stadium.
“We’re going to see how good we are right off the bat,” Conroy said. “I have to say that everything about this so far has been so positive. The administration, the staff, the kids, the parents, everyone and everything has been so positive.”
Conroy has already instructed his new players that there will be mandatory study hall sessions this season as well, to insure that they become well rounded on the field and in the classroom.
“It’s a great opportunity for me,” said Conroy, who has been a teacher in the Jersey City school system for the last 11 years. “I’ve been waiting for the chance to be a head coach for a long time. I believe that God put me here for a reason and this is it.”
Conroy is one of a handful of new local coaches preparing their teams for the first days of practice this week. The others are Rick Rodriguez at Bayonne, Dwayne Williams at Marist, Colin Eckert at Hudson Catholic and Zach Naszimento at Weehawken.
Yes, football has indeed arrived, both in the NFL and locally.
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.
You can also read his blog at www.jimhaguesports.blogspot.com.