This is a Gilman football team that is, in mind, body, and spirit, bluer and grayer.ĭespite so much tumult, the team looks ahead to the season. This is true across the staff, where nearly every coach is employed by Gilman as a teacher (Coach Holley will also be co-teaching African-American Literature). This year, all three coordinators are Gilman teachers, while last year, none were. Russell Wrenn (‘96), joins Gilman as a teacher, assistant athletic director and the team’s new offensive coordinator. Bryn Holmes heads up special teams and a new but familiar face, Mr.

Jeff Gouline (‘00) takes on the role of defensive coordinator Middle-School math teacher Mr.

Since so much of Coach Poggi’s operation was rebuilt at St. Frances Academy, the Greyhounds are operating with fewer and newer pieces: beloved math teacher Mr. Though Coach Holley downplays it, ostensibly and operationally, there are differences between this team and its decorated predecessor. I see myself more as a person whose job it is to organize the ship and make sure that the sailors can do their job.” “Coach Poggi’s a big personality, great spontaneity, enthusiastic.” With a chuckle, he distinguishes himself, saying, “I’m probably a bit more measured, a bit more systematic, probably less spontaneous than he is. He does draw some differences between his and Coach Poggi’s personalities. My philosophy would be to be as prepared as you possibly can be for every scenario.” He adds, rather poetically, “I’m a big proponent of proper preparation to prevent poor performance.” “I consider myself well-organized so there should be a purpose for what we do. Those influences are a lot of what I know as a football coach.”Ĭoach Holley says that any real difference between him and Coach Poggi is and will be found in style. In terms of belief and how you do things, there would be great similarities between me and Coach Poggi because we both worked for Coach Sherman Bristow and played for Coach Alexander Sotir. “Coach Poggi ran his leg of the relay race, and now it’s my turn to carry the baton. “I’ve never felt like we’re going in a new direction,” Coach Holley explains. Though the players have bought into the team’s philosophy, Coach Holley believes that any changes are minimal. The response from the kids who’ve stayed and committed and become engaged with what we’re trying to do has been fabulous.” “Going from a beloved coach whom they’ve cherished and going to a new experience with new people, I think the kids have responded terrifically. Coach Holley has been right alongside his players every day, gushing that he “couldn’t be more pleased with the commitment from the boys and from the coaches.”Ĭoach Holley recognizes how that commitment might have been difficult to make. Since June 6, the team has been spending its mornings or afternoons under the hot and humid summer sun in strength and conditioning workouts, installation practices, and a seven-on-seven league. On one hand, the erosion of the team’s talent has led many in and outside the Gilman community to question the team’s prospects in 2016.įor Coach Holley, on the other hand, “it’s been a good summer.”įor football players, it’s been a hard summer. The Greyhounds graduated nine starters from a top-25 team last year and-by Coach Holley’s count-lost eleven more members in the wake of Coach Biff Poggi’s departure.

Since last March, Gilman Football has been under the shadow of “graduation and attrition,” to use Coach Tim Holley’s term.

Biff poggi