NEW BERLIN – Continuity and consistency within a coaching staff breeds success. It's proven that schools who keep the same coaches in place at the varsity, junior varsity, and lower levels have found success.
Walton has had the same coach for close to four decades, while Chenango Forks has had most of the same guys for nearly 20 years.
Over at Unadilla Valley last season, Mark Segina was the fifth different varsity head football coach in five years, and of course, he brought in the fifth different offensive and defensive philosophy. Segina, though, is the first Storm football coach in six years to come back for a second year.
"I was the latest thing with a new playbook and new ideas, and I wouldn't have blamed the kids if there was some cynicism there," Segina said. "I think they were waiting (for us coaches) to prove it to them.
"We spent last year bringing them up to what we wanted to do. This is modern football and how modern football teams prepare. It took a while for them to buy in, and as crazy as it sounds, I saw improvement in the losses, even the ones that were blowouts."
UV was seldom in any games beyond the first half until finally breaking through in week eight against Oxford. There, the offense and defense clicked in a season-ending 27-14 victory. The final mark of 1-7 was inauspicious, but ending with a win was a positive to build toward the 2014 season.
"If you go anywhere in the football playoffs, only one team does not end the season with a loss," Segina said. "For us, it was certainly good for us to finish with a win. We didn't get down on ourselves, and against Oxford, we were able to capitalize on the development we showed throughout the season."
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Below we have an inside look at each position for Unadilla Valley’s 2014 season:
BACKFIELD
The Storm currently have a three-way battle at quarterback with each bringing his own unique skillset. Nick Bonanno, Jared White, and Mason Fernette make up the trio, and the two that do not get the starting nod will still find themselves somewhere on the field, Segina said. "We'll find out more in the scrimmage," the UV coach said.
Leading the running back corps is senior Alex Avolio, who led the team with 493 yards rushing and four TDs. It was Avolio's first season in the backfield, and he has become more instinctual and fundamental with his running style, Segina said. Complementing Avolio's bruising style is speedy sophomore halfback Caleb Simons. Fernette may also see his share of reps in the backfield as well.
