COLLEGE FOOTBALL Hiram looking to rebuild program; area talent sought

Assistant coach Frank Mazzocca wants to tap the Valley's high school player pool.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
HIRAM -- Frank Mazzocca is looking for Youngstown-area high school football players who would like to continue their careers and education at Hiram College.
The Campbell native who resides in Poland hopes to attract as many area recruits as possible to Hiram to help rebuild the football program, after completing his first season as an assistant coach for new mentor Mike Meyer.
"I know a lot of coaches and kids in this area. I have a good rapport with coaches and schools in this area," said Mazzocca, who is directing Hiram's recruiting for the Youngstown, Warren and Western Pennsylvania areas. "I try to get them to visit the school and then make up their mind. That's the idea, to get as many up there to visit as possible.
"We're trying to get more players from this area. We had 50 high school seniors from this area come in to visit Hiram already, and we expect more."
There were 11 area players on the Terriers' roster this season.
Self-made coach: A 1978 graduate of Campbell Memorial High where he played quarterback two seasons for coach Al Gerlick, Mazzocca is a self-made, much-traveled coach who has been around the area coaching ranks for about 25 years.
He spent three years on the Ursuline High staff from 1998-2000, before being hired at Hiram in the summer of 2000 when Meyer was tapped from Ohio Northern to become the Terriers' new coach.
Meyer, who served 11 years as an assistant with the Polar Bears, succeeded Bobby Thomas, a native of Liberty.
Hired along with Mazzocca from the area were Bill Agona, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from Cortland; Ed Anthony, running backs coach from Leavittsburg, and Howard Jenter of Champion, who tutors defensive backs and also serves as the Hiram baseball coach.
"He [Meyer] came in very late. He got hired June 29. He came in without any staff and he had to find a staff around here," recalled Mazzocca, who was informed about the opening by Agona.
"Bill Agona got hired first. They were looking for some coaches, and Bill Agona called me. I made the call [to Hiram] and I was on the staff after the interview."
Versatile: Mazzocca, who played quarterback for two years with the Youngstown Hardhats from 1980-81, believes two of the reasons he got the Hiram job was "being able to deal with the kids in general," and, "My versatility. I'm able to coach all positions on the field."
Although Hiram struggled to a 3-7 record in Meyer's first season, including 1-6 in the North Coast Athletic Conference, Mazzocca said the potential was there to do better.
"It was mainly a rebuilding year. We could have done better. We lost four games we should have won," said Mazzocca, who blamed the dismal record to the injury to senior quarterback Dwayne Pavkovich, a Poland High graduate.
Pavkovich, a three-year starter who had missed seven games in the 2000 season due to a shoulder injury, suffered a concussion in the fifth game against Wabash.
But for his career, Pavkovich still produced impressive statistics, completing 361-of-803 passes for 4,297 yards and 32 TDs with 27 interceptions.
"Prior to his injury, we were 2-3. And we went to 1-4 after that," said Mazzocca. "That was the big factor. He was the most athletic guy we had on offense. Once he went down, we went down with him."
Optimistic: With a recruiting plan in place, Mazzocca is optimistic for next season and the future.
"If we get the numbers [players] in, we're looking at a good season. We probably will start a lot of freshmen, so there will be a lot of playing time for freshmen coming in," he said.
Mazzocca said he wanted to coach ever since he began coaching sandlot baseball when he was 16-years-old. He spent 18 years coaching baseball, and while doing so began to turn his interest to football.
He served as an assistant coach at Brookfield (1991-1994) and Girard (1995) when Gary Barber was the head coach at both schools; Campbell Memorial (1996, Mark McCann) and Mohawk (1997, Lou Commesso), before joining the Ursuline staff (1998-99, Scott Niedzwiecki, and 2000 (Jim Vivo).
"I decided I wanted to be a coach in some area. The road just brought me here," said Mazzocca, who is employed by Star Extruded Shapes in Canfield. He and wife Jackie have a daughter, Daniella.
Mazzocca invites area high school coaches and players to contact Meyer (330-569-5345) or himself (330-707-1623) if they would like to visit Hiram.
kovach@vindy.com