Time for the McCreary's to step aside at Wooster

• you think you know

  

  They got my vote!
• THE4RINGZ

  

  CCRolly;906438 wrote:So what we're all kind of saying here is, you could make a strong vaild case for the McCreary's being OCC Coach(es) of the Year each season?!?!!

  
  
  
  Yes. But that would be like Rosie O'Donnell winning the Miss America contest.
• CCRolly

  

  One of my buddies told me that someone copy and pasted my first comment into a new topic on another site. Wonderful. Superb. Let the good word spread...
• you think you know

  

  THE4RINGZ;906903 wrote:Yes. But that would be like Rosie O'Donnell winning the Miss America contest.

  She's got my vote!
• CCRolly

  

  Dug up the following article from The Daily Record's archive on the hiring of Mike McCreary at Wooster. Enjoy...
  [h=2]Wooster Hopes To Turn Football Program Around With McCreary[/h]
  Mike McCreary has yet to register his first win or loss.
  He hasn't directed a practice or even handed out a uniform.
  However, McCreary can already make one guarantee with near certainty that six of Wooster High School's last nine head football coaches haven't been able to deliver:
  ''I'm not going anywhere,'' said McCreary, 33, who was hired to take over his struggling alma mater's program in April.
  ''This is where I'm from and where my family is. I'm going to stay until I retire or get fired -- hopefully it's the first one and not the other.''
  Wooster, which will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its first football team this fall, has plummeted to all-time low depths in the 1990s.
  Since Bob McFarland, Wooster's all-time winningest coach, retired after 16 seasons in 1989, the program has endured nine straight losing seasons.
  Gary Green, Joe Studer and, most recently Mike Hallett, who resigned earlier this year to become an assistant coach at Thomas More College (Ky.), have gone a combined 19-71 from 1990-98. The latter two coaches put in just two seasons apiece, compiling identical 5-15 records.
  Taking back an even broader look, of the Generals' last nine coaches only three have stayed more than five years.
  Part of the struggle for Wooster lately has been its move into the ultra-competitive Federal League in 1988, but McCreary sees other problems.
  ''I don't want to cut on any previous coach, because I think they all could have won if they'd seen their plans through, but I firmly believe a coach is going to have to be here at least five years to win,'' McCreary said. ''I remember when McFarland was here for all those years, the kids always knew what to expect.
  ''Right now the kids don't know what to think. My 15 seniors will be with their third head coach in four years. There were kids who were really hurt when (Hallett) left and I'm not going to get that trust back over night.''
  McCreary certainly will have an easier time gaining those kids' confidence than an outsider. All the players have to do is look at his loyal track record.
  That's what Wooster athletic director Chuck Cooper did in joining other administrators in recommending McCreary to the school board.
  ''Mike has definitely earned a shot,'' Cooper said. ''He bleeds blue and gold.
  ''He's been with us 10 years and he's not going anywhere. More importantly than that, Mike's just a first-class individual, a good coach and he makes decisions in the best interest of the kids.''
  An all-league quarterback/linebacker when Wooster was winning in the Cardinal Conference in the early 1980s, McCreary went on to play at the University of Toledo and had a tryout with the New York Giants.
  For the last decade, McCreary has been an assistant in both the football and boys basketball programs, but this is his first head coaching position.
  Named to McCreary's staff are his brother Bill, father John (Wooster's head coach in 1971-72), Drew Gerber, John Murphy, Chad Stuckey, Scott Berg, Jim Weyer and Jeff Sigler.
  McCreary also applied to be head coach two years ago, but even after Hallett was picked over him decided to remain on as an assistant.
  Obviously, though, McCreary was hired for more reasons than just his staying power.
  The coach has a specific long-range plan to get the Generals (1-9 last year) headed back in the right direction.
  Starting from the ground up, McCreary is focused on getting the numbers and enthusiasm back up. While most FL teams dress around 65-80 players per game, Wooster usually starts the season in the 40s and by midseason that number has dwindled into the 30s because of injuries and people quitting.
  This week McCreary's running a grade school football camp, continuing something Hallett did.
  An added advantage is his position as a junior high teacher, which should help him get younger players interested in the high school team.
  ''We lose too many players between the junior high and high school level,'' McCreary said. ''Hopefully, it will add excitement for them being able to talk to the head varsity coach about their games and practices.''
  Once players are in high school, McCreary wants to get more of them putting in the needed time and effort.
  ''That's something I want to change,'' said McCreary, asked about the stereotype of Wooster football players not working hard enough. ''There have always been kids who work hard in my 10 years here, but just not enough.
  ''We've always had five or 10, maybe 15, but you can't just have a few. That doesn't make a team. You have to have everybody.''
  ''Everybody'' will have to start with this year's seniors who are signed up for summer conditioning: Josh Baker, Jamie Cannon, Seth Canter, Aaron Conley, Tom Foley, Chris Heimbuch, Brandon Howard, Matt Lewis, Nathan Jankov, Mike Meenan, Joe McNeil, Josh Moore, Adam Speelman, Andy Thompson and Jeff Mann.
  ''I know it's going to take time, but I want this place to be a state champion,'' McCreary said. ''I could move and try to coach somewhere else that's already successful, but why not try to make your own school a champion? This is where my ties are and I want success here.
  ''We won league titles in the 1980s and went to state in 1986, so it can be done here.''
  McFarland, Wooster's last winning coach, just retired as a teacher this year. He shares the opinion of a lot of football fans in the community.
  ''Get out of the Federal League. That's my comment,'' McFarland said. ''They're never going to have a program until they get out of that league.
  ''People around Wayne County don't understand what football is in Stark County. Everything else is just icing on the cake until they tee it up in football.''
  McFarland said Wooster spreads its priorities much wider than simply, ''doing everything for football.''
  ''I'm not saying one is right or wrong, but Wooster better get in a league with people who have the same philosophies we do,'' he said. As for his former player getting his opportunity, ''I am happy for Mike,'' McFarland said. ''It's a much deserved shot for someone that's been very loyal to the school.''
  Cooper agreed with McFarland's assessment of the difference in priorities between most FL schools and Wooster.
  ''It's a cultural thing over there. ... but we've been successful in other sports,'' said Cooper. ''We were third in the All-Sports race this school year.
  ''One other thing about McCreary, though, is he really believes we can win in football no matter what league we're in.''
  Cooper said Wooster has noticed Orrville's move to the Ohio Heartland Conference -- ''certainly that league is more appealing now'' -- but no move is in the works.
  ''We'll always take a look at what's in the best interest of our kids, for not just one sport, but for everybody,'' Cooper said. ''Really, the (high school) has some input, but switching leagues is something that would be more up to the board or superintendent.''
  McCreary just wants to win no matter what the league.
  Finally, he'll get his chance.
• riders1

  

  What year was this article? How long has he been coach?
• THE4RINGZ

  

  Wow, such optimisim in the article.
• CCRolly

  

  A loss to frickin' Madison....are you serious?!?!! These guys have got to go. Madison ran 3 plays all night and Bill McCreary couldn't figure out a way to stop them. Having them coach us is the equivalent of the Football Death Penalty. We will not win another game this year. There is no excuse for losing to Madison.
• Mr. 300

  

  Wow, what a shocker.
• Old Rider

  

  like orrvilles offense..sucks
• THE4RINGZ

  

  The rumor around town is Bill McCreary will be the next varsity Lacrosse head coach at Wooster. Are you kidding me?
• you think you know

  

  Old Rider;908636 wrote:like orrvilles offense..sucks

  And Ashlands Defense!
• CCRolly

  

  We all suck again!
• OQB

  

  CCRolly;909196 wrote:We all suck again!

  
  haha +1
• scarface1

  seems to me that you are just feeding the negativity in wooster this is not what people need to hear from the community. The kids pay attention to all they hear from people like you and all that does is udermine the coaches and the work that gets put in by the coaches and kids. Maybe its time for the parents of the athletes in wooster to tell them to work a little harder at their sport instead of whinning about not winning and the wins may come. Most people dont Know the time put in by these folks and do you really think they are any happier about than you.
• CCRolly

  

  I would sure hope they aren't happier than most Wooster fans are. But I do know that it would sure as hell help if they'd put in some more time to install more than the same 6-8 offensive plays that we run every single year. Or how about we stop running the same defenses we have against the same team over the last 7-8 years...and that's coming from other team's coaches, players, and fans. Or, and this is a real doozy, how about we make some in-game adjustments when they're needed? How about when a team like Madison is pounding you between the tackles 90% of the time, that we don't run a defense with 3 down lineman, with one over the center, and the other two split wide near the tight ends? Lets just leave those wide open spaces across from the guards and tackles for them to continue to gash us all night long. So you're admitting that the kids would rather pay attention to what's being said on a message board than from what the coaches are saying? Enough said. You did however make a good point about the kids needing to work harder, I do agree with this. But I would sure as hell hope you would agree that it's quite evident that the coach needs to step up his game and put these kids in a better position to win ball games. As for feeding the negativity in Wooster, all I can say about that is you must be one of the several confused Wooster fans who goes to their games and is so quiet that you're not sure if you're really there for a football game or a huge knitting party. This wasn't about hurting anyone, this has always been about doing what's best for the kids at Wooster High School.
• OQB

  

  Maybe the kids would work harder if they had a different coach?? It sure does seem like the kids work hard and have success from peewee up until they hit freshman ball....then once they get under the current coaching staff they can't have the success they have had all the way up through the system?
• THE4RINGZ

  

  How about they find a coach who doesn't discourage kids from playing other sports so they can focus on football?
• THE4RINGZ

  

  scarface1;912057 wrote:seems to me that you are just feeding the negativity in wooster this is not what people need to hear from the community. The kids pay attention to all they hear from people like you and all that does is udermine the coaches and the work that gets put in by the coaches and kids. Maybe its time for the parents of the athletes in wooster to tell them to work a little harder at their sport instead of whinning about not winning and the wins may come. Most people dont Know the time put in by these folks and do you really think they are any happier about than you.

  
  Thank You for your input Mrs. McCreary. I don't believe anyone here is questioning the commitment of the kids in the program. We all know it is time.for a change at Wooster. As Woody Hayes once said, "the best way to get your butt kicked is to keep your head buried in the sand."
• Old Rider

  

  I say Wooster hires Bill McMillan as the new head coach. Bill Dennis as the new O-coord. Keep the MCrearys as the D-coords. Nate Grude as the QB coach. and fill in the rest with the Rittmans soon to be out of job guys and any other viable Wooster has beens!
• Mr. 300

  

  Old Rider;914361 wrote:I say Wooster hires Bill McMillan as the new head coach. Bill Dennis as the new O-coord. Keep the MCrearys as the D-coords. Nate Grude as the QB coach. and fill in the rest with the Rittmans soon to be out of job guys and any other viable Wooster has beens!

  I'll donate fify to the cause.
• THE4RINGZ

  

  Old Rider;914361 wrote:I say Wooster hires Bill McMillan as the new head coach. Bill Dennis as the new O-coord. Keep the MCrearys as the D-coords. Nate Grude as the QB coach. and fill in the rest with the Rittmans soon to be out of job guys and any other viable Wooster has beens!

  
  
  Wont happen. Hamsher isn't the AD any longer.
• Old Rider

  

  THE4RINGZ;914383 wrote:Wont happen. Hamsher isn't the AD any longer.

  ...but she now has ties to Rittman and can write a GREAT recommendation to the new admin staff at WOO!
  
  See!! Its a small world and the connections are there!
• THE4RINGZ

  

  Old Rider;914389 wrote:...but she now has ties to Rittman and can write a GREAT recommendation to the new admin staff at WOO!
  
  See!! Its a small world and the connections are there!

  
  
  
  DAY-UM!!!!!
• Old Rider

  

  THE4RINGZ;914397 wrote:DAY-UM!!!!!

  What? Your not buying that?