Improvement!!

Improvement starts with a Vision for our program
Michael Farzley 

The first thing that I want my community to know is that we, as a program, will be committed to this community! It is often the case that certain sports on campuses get a bad reputation for being treated as 'elite' members of the school community because of athletic accomplishments. I'm only bringing this up because we are seeing that at our school right now. Instead of celebrating great team success together as a united student-body, our students have become resentful of our football program. I should mention that I am the new Athletic Director at the school this year and I am seeing and hearing this first-hand from our students and even faculty.



Upon further research, I am learning and observing that it was because of the way that our coaches and players hold themselves in the community! There was an arrogance in our team, this year, that actually had the school community, somewhat secretly, hoping they would fail. In my 20 years of coaching, I've NEVER been a part of something like that! Unfortunately, I see where this attitude comes from and it starts with the coaches. Our team had a tremendous undefeated regular season before losing in the Semis this year. It should be a time of celebration and excitement at school, but instead, the student-body didn't really care.



I only share this story because it is something that I am currently managing with our coaching staff and the fact that they let this get out of hand unchecked! It's one thing to say what your program is about, but another to actually live it.



All of this being said, there is an opportunity here to rebuild this broken relationship between the program and the student-body. This has given me terrific insight as to how I would introduce my own football program to a new audience (meanwhile, I'll be working on repairing this situation....I'll keep you posted if you're interested).



Vision:



"Chadwick Football will represent our community with a humble confidence that exemplifies everything that we do. We will be leaders in our school and local communities. We will lead by example through service, mentoring, and doing things the RIGHT way."



The number one thing that I will let my Boosters, families, administration, faculty, staff, and student-body know is that the members of our football team will work hard between the white lines to be the best team they can be, but MOST IMPORTANTLY, they will work even harder to become terrific contributors to society. Their character will be what they are 'graded' on to a higher degree than what they do on the field. I feel that if we develop fine young men, the rest of what it means to be on a football team takes care of itself.



I want the community to know that we will be a supportive and closely-knit family that respects one another and lifts each other up in both difficult and noteworthy circumstances. We will be the first to pick up the trash left out on campus, the first to volunteer for community service opportunities, and the biggest fan-club of other teams that are competing on our campus. We will be the thread that binds our school and will accept responsibility when we (as an individual or as a team) have not acted accordingly.



We as coaches, know that winning seasons can come cyclically, (unless your Mater Dei, etc). Sometimes you have extremely hard-working athletic and talented classes, sometimes you have just hard working classes minus the talent. Winning and losing seasons come and go, but the one constant that I want my players and parents to know is that the boys will be loved just the same and their character development will ALWAYS be consistent.