From nothing, to something

Here’s my Q&A with Shawnee Middle School Head Football Coach, Jon Corleone.

C: What was the process like for you in becoming the head coach at Shawnee?

J: It was a very simple process for the most part. I was told about the opening from a coach on the past coaching staff because he knew my love for the kids and experience of the game and the way I developed my former youth league players coming up. I went in and took the interview and got the call less than 48 hours later and was told he had given me the job.

C: When you’re looking at building a coaching staff, what qualities do you look for in an assistant coach?

J: Great qualities of a coaching staff that I looked for were people who were dedicated to the kids, knowledge of the game, and ones that I knew who could be patient and can relate to the kids. 

C: At what point during the season did you know you had something special going on over at Shawnee?

J: I knew early it was going to be a special team from how hard these kids were working and how committed they were and actually wanted to push themselves to become great.

C: Kids today, now more than ever with social media and whatnot, have a hard time staying focused. How was it for you being the head coach keeping your players and staff focused on the main thing? 

J: It was simple because we always remained humbled simply because I was making it clear that we were the same team as last year that was 0-8 and never even scored a point. Always told the team with my talks that we have nothing to lose and everything to prove so don’t be doing all the social media RAH RAH we are just going to come out and play ball and play great physical football and let the game do the talking for us. 

C: When the ⏰ hit zero, how much emotion of your past and what you guys went through this season came over you?

J: Honestly, it was a relief, but I saw it coming and wasn’t surprised after the tough playoff games that we had to get to the championship game. I knew the story was written for us to come out on top, with us playing from behind the whole game and taking the lead with 1 second left vs JCTMS to take the lead for the first time in the game. I believe all my emotions were used then for real lol 

C: How important is it for you to see the image of Shawnee change for the positive? 

J: It’s very important. Hopefully, me and the staff  coming in and turning the program around from 0-8 to a championship team can help boost the reputation and allow everyone to see and believe that it’s possible here even at Shawnee with the bad rep and past history in the athletic program. 

C: How many players do you have returning? Would you think from this year’s team for next season? 

J: We have about 20 kids returning, and hopefully more who have become believers after this season to hopefully help repeat for another shot at a championship. 

C: You’ve been through a lot in your personal life. How do you use what you’ve been through to help you with coaching? 

J: Losing both parents within a total of 6 months took a toll on me, but one thing my parents did compliment me with was the impact and changes I made to each kid I coached in the past years. Coaching also takes my mind off whatever is going on in my life and helps me lock in and be free-minded and helps me motivate and better each kid I have. 

C: How do you want this year’s undefeated team of coaches and players to be remembered? 

J: I would like this team to be remembered for life on the team that went winless to undefeated championships off of hard work, dedication on and off the field to soar to greatness. I would like for this team to be the example that gives teams and coaches HOPE that a change can happen if everyone buys in.