New coach looks to return Hornets to success

Fortunately for the Hornets, they found an experienced, successful head coach who also has won a state championship.

That coach is 49-year-old Phil Annarella who, after a year's hiatus from the game, is beginning his 28th season of high school varsity coaching, including 18 years as a head coach.

Annarella compiled a 121-61-3 mark as the head man at Youngstown Rayen (2 years), Warren Western Reserve (9 years) and Warren Harding (7 years) after it and Reserve were consolidated in 1990. The highlight of his tenure came in Ô90 when the consolidated district captured the Ohio Division I (big school) state championship.

Annarella coached through 1996 before being let go by Harding in what many considered to be a controversial move. Now, after a year off, he is back and rearing to guide a squad that finished 4-6 a year ago. He will also have to do that in Class AAA where the Hornets move from AA.

''I was flattered that I was hired as the coach here,'' Annarella said. ''I wanted to get back in it and I thought this might a be a good opportunity.''

One reason Annarella felt it was a good opportunity was ''being able to bring my old staff with me.''

That includes six former assistants and even his former equipment manager, which Annarella feels will prove to be a big positive for him.

''To begin with, they know what I expect and I know what they expect. It's just so much easier when you have guys you've worked with so long. But I'd like to note that a couple of holdovers have been a big plus in helping in other areas as far as the background of our kids and opponents. It's turned out to be a good mix and I think we've assembled a good staff.''

That staff includes: Ed Ashcroft (co-offensive coordinator), Jon Elliot (co-offensive coordinator), Jim Bell (defensive coordinator), John Allen (special teams coordinator), Greg Barnhart (C, OG, DT), Doug Barnhart (TE, DE), Dan Black (OL, DL), Doug Levis (Z-backs, DB), Mike Nardone (Backs, OLB), Steve Moser (PK, P), and junior high coaches Ray Olsen, Tim Jones, Mark Palumbo and Pat Teglo.

In addition to the slew of new coaches this year, Hermitage has joined other area schools in adding a 7th and 8th grade program.

''We've been fortunate that we've got four guys down there that are all Hermitage guys that know the kids,'' Annarella said of Olsen, Jones, Palumbo and Teglo. ''They've got real good interest from the kids and initially we're pleased with it. If you don't have that at the lower end, you're not going to have it at the upper end. You need kids feeding up.''

As for feeding up, it's something the experienced and knowledgeable Annarella knows a little about, coming from the highly competitive Steel Valley Conference, a conference that was considered for many years to be one of the strongest in the state of Ohio.

He expects nothing different, however, from the schools he'll face in the Mercer County Athletic Conference.

''Everything's relative,'' Annarella said. ''When you have this many state champions from this part of the state, something's being done right. We're not looking at this any different than when we were playing Steel Valley oppponents and we know week in and week out we're going to have to be prepared.''

A preparedness for an inexperienced squad that certainly will begin with Hickory's senior class.

''We've obviously build around our seniors and hopefully they can do some good things,'' Annarella said.

Leading that senior class are tri-captains -- ''that were voted on by our players,'' Annarella said -- Jeff Porter (6-1, 273-pound two-way tackle), Dave Gargano (6-0, 195-pound guard, defensive end) and Nick Van Sickles (6-4, 330-pound two-way tackle).

Hickory has some size, but Annarella is quick to point out that ''size is only good if you utilize it in the right way. If you don't, it's not. We've got to make them understand and as coaches have to understand what our strengths are.''

Some of Annarella's strengths could be senior running back, defensive back Torrance Gash, one of the fastest runners in the entire state, and senior linemen Matt Holiga and Jason Clepper.

Annarella will also be counting on a ''pretty good junior class'' to fill some holes and contribute. Among them could be 5-10, 170-pound quarterback Derek Perkins, the leading candidate to start, but who has no varsity playing time.

''We've got to try to jell quickly,'' Annarella said. ''Hopefully the kids will step up and things will fall into place. I feel good about the kids, I know they're making the effort.''

And that really is all any coach, even a new one, can ask.

''Right now our goal is to go out and play well Friday night against Punxsutawney,'' Annarella said. ''We can't control the other team's performance, we can only control our own. We need to worry about us and us getting better everyday. And if we do that, the other things will take care of themselves.''