Coach happy for his players

Gateway Coach of the Year Jon Heacock would rather be still playing.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Jon Heacock would rather be still coaching football than accepting awards.
Youngstown State's football coach was named the Gateway Conference's coach of the year Monday, the first such honor for a YSU mentor.
Heacock, who completed his fifth season with the Penguins, guided the team to a four-win improvement from 2004, when they went 4-7, to 8-3 and a share of the Gateway title.
"It's nice and it's especially nice because it comes from your peers," Heacock said Tuesday. "Still I'd much rather we'd still be playing football and I'd trade all of this if we could make that happen, but there's nothing we can do about that now."
Left out of playoffs
The Penguins, who were ranked among the top 15 teams in the final I-AA polls, were disappointed over a week ago when they were left out of the 16 teams selected for the NCAA I-AA playoffs which began last Saturday.
"That's all history now, there's nothing we can do about what's already happened, but we can work hard to make sure it doesn't happen again," Heacock said.
Heacock was elated that 12 players received honors on the All-Gateway Conference team announced Monday.
Five Penguins were named to the first team, four more to the second team and three received honorable mention.
"It's just awesome, they all deserved it so much, they've all worked so hard for everything all season long," Heacock said.
"It's a great tribute to our coaching staff and our players and to this university," he added.
Tough watching playoffs
Heacock said that it was difficult last weekend watching the other I-AA teams compete in the playoffs.
"It was tough, very tough to watch," he said. "It's more frustration now than anything, but again there's nothing we can do about it now.
"This isn't something new, we've been battling this situation for several years now and our administration has been working hard to try and change what needs to be done.
"Sure we'd like to schedule this team or that team, but those things also require a yes on the other end to make them happen," he continued. "We're working on it every day."
Most players returning
Heacock is excited that most of the players named all-conference return next season.
"Yes that's exciting, but on the same hand this year's team had such great leadership and that's going to be the big challenge to next year's group," he said.
"It's nice to see all those returning players on paper, but if we don't go and concentrate on academics, and we don't work hard in winter conditioning and summer drills and we don't take care of ourselves off campus, than that's all it really is going to be, just a list of returning players," he said.
New contract in making
Heacock and YSU athletic director Ron Strollo have agreed in principal on a new contract. The details are being worked out between Heacock, his agent, Dr. John Geletka, and Strollo, and the coach is hopeful it will be finalized in the next week or two.
mollica@vindy.com