Learning from State Champions - California, Iowa, Louisiana, Pennsylvania
Dec 27, 2022 5:48 pm
Coach ,
As we take our tour across the country and share insight from state champions who have appeared in our clinics, today we recognize state champs from California, Iowa, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania.
California - St. John Bosco, Jason Negro, HC
St. John Bosco won its third national championship under head coach Jason Negro as well as their fourth state title.
While Bosco is a national program now with high expectations, what makes them successful is no different than at any size school anywhere in the country. For Coach Negro, it boils down to the two most important things for any program, Culture and Practice.
In this video, Coach Negro explains the importance (click on images for videos).
Video: The Two Most Important Aspects for Any Program
According to Coach Negro, developing a successful program begins with a narrow approach which is laid out in the philosophy. He explains that here:
Video: Developing a Philosophy
Iowa - Southeast Polk, Brad Zelenovich, HC
Brad Zelenovich led Southeast Polk to their 2nd straight Iowa 5A State Championship. You can bet that they have plenty of multi-sport athletes in their program. It’s something that Coach Zelenovich is passionate about.
He spoke on this at one of our clinics and it all starts with identifying the problem. One of the biggest issues he identifies is that emphasis is on skill development rather than athletic development. He explains here:
Video: Identifying the Problem
Louisiana Destrehan HS, Assistant Coach Rhett Peltier
Destrehan HS won its 5th state championship. Assistant Coach Rhett Peltier has shared plenty of his football knowledge with our audience. In this clip, he shares a swing screen RPO. It is an effective way to get the quarterback a clear indicator of whether he will be throwing the screen or executing the zone read. The LB adjustment with motion is a big help in clearing up the decision for the QB. Here he executes the zone read:
Pennsylvania - St. Joseph Prep, Tim Roken, HC & Assistants Ryn Morrison and Tom Sugden
Finally, we head east to St. Joseph Prep in Philadelphia where Tim Roken has won his 3rd state championship as a head coach. Much like St. John Bosco, St. Joseph Prep has become a national program competing with teams from out of state as well as their Pennsylvania rivals.
This past January, Coach Roken was selected to be the head coach of the East squad in the All-American Bowl today He helped lead the Hawks to a PIAA state championship in 2019 and 2020. Prior to being named the head coach, he served as the offensive coordinator for St. Joseph teams that won four state championship titles. Coach Roken served as the offensive coordinator during the 2015 All-American Bowl.
Like any strong program, it starts with a mission. Coach Roken shares his mission statement here:
Assistant Coach Ryne Morrison is the Passing Game Coordinator for the Hawks. In this video, he shares their Glance concept out of 21 personnel. In this case with eight in the box, the QB’s job is essentially to make the free safety wrong to be able to hit the pass for a big gain:
Offensive Coordinator and Associate Head Coach Tom Sugden shared the Power Run game of the Hawks at the SoCal Virtual Clinic. In this clip, he illustrates the Power-G scheme which is becoming more and more popular (again). In this scheme, the frontside guard pulls and kicks out, the fullback wraps through, and the backside zones off. He explains it here:
Whether it’s how they organize their program, recruit the athletes in their hallways, or putting them in a system that highlights their abilities, these state champs have done an excellent job in 2022!
More to come this week from our State Champions.
Always be growing!
Coach Grabowski