With a new coaching staff and projections of upwards of 70 participants, students are excited and have high hopes for next football season.

After an 1-8 season and the resignation of Eric Waldstein, Atlantic was empty at the head coaching position. A quick search ended in hiring Mike McDermott who had previously coached from 1998-2002.

McDermott was part of the coaching staff for Atlantic during their first and only football State championship win in 2002. Since then, the Trojans have had only two winning seasons, 2005-2006 and 2012-2013. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to coach and thankful to all those coaches that have coached me throughout all the years,” McDermott said.

Although only 42 players participated last season, McDermott projects the team will have numbers within the 70 range. He has also begun to recruit players, going to numerous practices and events, finding kids in and outside of school that want to be involved in activities. McDermott emphasized the importance of talking to and reconnecting with the kids to see how “they can help us and we can help them.”

“Our goals right off the bat are going to center around being competitive and competing every day at practice and games. We want to be good at our fundamentals. Finding ways to be successful, whether it’s wins or losses. We just want to play hard,” McDermott said.

Discipline and hard work are characteristics McDermott wants to see. He said, “Our teams have always been highly disciplined teams. From hustling and showing up on time to being overall a good person.”

Team captains Drake Roller and Zac Stork are excited for next season. Roller said, “It’s going to be great and I can’t wait to get started.”  While Stork said, “I think it’ll be a lot different. We have a lot more athletes to work with this year and  I think our coaching staff is already heading in the right direction.”

The changes happening at AHS are rippling to current eighth-graders planning on playing football next year. The eighth-grade team is currently coached by Tim Duff and Alan Jenkins.

Eighth-graders Tyler Moen and Cyle Renaud are both excited to enter high school and begin playing under McDermott. Moen said, “It’s going to be exciting with McDermott being the new coach and basically having a whole new team. I expect that we will do all right. We are rebuilding right now so it’s going to take time.”

Renaud also thinks Atlantic will have an improved team and season next year saying, “I feel good about the whole new situation with McD being the new coach. I expect we are going to do good next year.”

Now a confident and excited Atlantic football program faces summer workouts, team development, and a very anticipated season.