WOODBURY — After Northwest United went 9-1 in last year’s regular season before the program disbanded, the new Nonnewaug co-op program will move forward with a new head coach. Earlier this year, the Chiefs named a new head coach: Scott Lynch.

Returning players share excitement about the potential of the new program.

“I think that this could be pretty good for us,” said freshman Greg Neumann. “Over the years I’ve always had mixed opinions on my coaches, so this could be a new start.”

Hearing this can lighten the mood a little and make this situation sound better, but it doesn’t mean it will be easy by any means. 

“Being a head coach is a big responsibility,” says Neumann. “The whole team depends on what you call and how you do it.”

Freshman Jake Lambert agrees with Neumann.

“Last year, I enjoyed our coaches, but I felt as if the team wasn’t at its full potential,”  Lambert said. “The coaches were great, but the team itself was too unserious.” 

Being a head coach is not only a job to win games; it also requires making sure a team is disciplined and has a good work ethic. While coaches need to let players know that they’re serious, it’s also important to make sure you build a strong connection with players.

“Most of my coaches all throughout my football career I haven’t been too close to,” says Lambert. “The thing I look for most in my coach is if I can relate to them or not.”   

A new coach can lead to many positives for a team. It can build new chemistry and maybe even make a team better, but it also leads to negative possibilities. Many players feel that as long as a coach can demonstrate discipline, good work ethic, and chemistry with their team, the players will support their coaches.