New head coach at Nansemond River
The Nansemond River Warriors have been a steady program for the past
three seasons posting a 14-17 mark since the beginning of the 2011
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season after not winning more than three games in a single season since
their 7-3 finish in 2002.
src="http://vmedia.rivals.com/uploads/914/1513520.jpg"
hspace="5" vspace="5">With the deaprture of head
coach Tracey Parker following the 2013 campaign, the Warriors
administration went searching for someone who can take them to the next
level and they may have found their man in David Coccolli who recently
led Forest Park to their first postseason appearance as they advanced
to the state quarterfinals before falling to Oscar Smith.
A native of the Tidewater area who grew up in Newport News and played
his college football at Christopher Newport University, Coccolli is
looking forward to being back near home. "Nansemond River
made the playoffs last year and wnet 5-5 in the two years before that.
The jayvee had a big year so there is a lot of talent going through the
school now. It's the perfect opportunity for me to come back home and
try to contribute to a program near my hometown. That's important to me
and my family."
Coccolli has a strong history of winning as he carried Manassas Park to
the playoffs in 2010 after the program had suffered a four-year drought
then moved on to Forest Park where he took the Bruins to the playoffs
for the first time in school history last season, his third year on the
job there.
"When I met with the Principal and the Athletic Director, I was sold on
their vision for the program immediately," says Coccolli. "They want a
successful program on and off the field and they want a discipline
program on and off the field with kids held accountable for what they
do. They want good student-athlets and want the school to be the pride
of Suffolk."
Words that he believes that he can turn into action.
"I think that hard work, especially in the offseason, is key. I ask a
lot of the players and, if they want to be successful, they are going
to have to buy in. It's about work ethic and about playing good defense
and speical teams."
With the Warriors likely to move to a 4A conference in 2015, Coccolli
believes that the program can do big things in the near future.
"I want to give a jolt of enthusiasm to the program."