Fairfield Prep Football Starting Anew Under First-Year Coach Tom Shea

First-year Fairfield Prep football coach Tom Shea has inherited a team that is coming off a simply disastrous campaign, as the once-proud Jesuits stumbled to an 0-10 record last season.

It was a year marked by coaching follies and  a lack of discipline and focus. But now the Jesuits, once noted for their discipline, are eager to start anew in 2010 with a different man in charge.

"What's done is done, we can't change what happened last season," said senior captain Brian Golger, who will play tight end and linebacker this year for the Jesuits.

"I think we're going to have a good year. We worked really hard as a group at the Yale camp this summer, and we've worked hard this preseason. We're ready for the season to start."

Golger and company have taken a strong liking to Shea, who has made no bones about what it's going to take to right the Jesuits' ship. He has preached discipline, focus and an unwavering work ethic since the day he was named the new head coach in the summer.

"We're far more organized and disciplined this season in every single way," wideout and linebacker Vinny McAvey said.  "Coach  has really worked hard to get this program back on track, and we have all bought in to what it's going to take."

These Jesuits hope this year is the first step toward restoring a program rich in tradition to its former winning ways.

Captain CJ Donahue returns under center, and the senior signal-caller looked crisp and agile throughout the preseason.

In the backfield, shifty tailback Kyle Vignone plays much bigger than his 5-5 frame would suggest, and he figures to be the most crucial weapon in the Jesuits' offensive arsenal.

The offensive line returns nearly fully intact, with tackles Hayden Collins and Tom Murphy joining center Will Watson and guards Conor Shea and Evan Tuozzoli to form a unit that will try to open holes for Vignone.

Tom Shea has installed a wing, run-heavy look on offense and is relying heavily on his veteran linemen to make it work.

While the offensive pieces could be in place, the Jesuits are getting acclimated to their third coach in as many seasons and need stability.  Bill Pinto, who replaced the successful Rich Magdon, was fired after only one year.

"Players have prepared themselves physically, but this is their third system in three years," Tom Shea added. "The key to their success is how quickly they can adapt and improve their execution."

Defensively, the Jesuits will deploy a 3-5-3 look.

At 6-4,  Kevin Maiorano offers a rangy presence at linebacker, with Evan Tuozzoli, Watson and Golger completing the linebacking corps, Up front, the Jesuits will be led by Serge Jean-Baptiste, Collins, Murphy and Conor Shea.

Vignone, Miles Gaines, Elijah Langston and Tom Brewster will patrol the secondary for Fairfield Prep, while the duo of Colin Cinder and Dean Duffy should get ample time to shine at both inside linebacker and running back throughout the season.

Shea faces a daunting task following the tough 2009 campaign, but he is excited about what the future holds for his players and his alma mater. You certainly won't hear him making any excuses.

"Our goal is to be competitive in every phase of the game and in every game we play," he said. "We expect to have a winning season this year."

For the seniors, including Donahue, the coming season provides the perfect chance at redemption.

"Last year was not what Prep football is all about," Donahue said. "We're looking forward to turning the page and getting our program back to where it belongs."