Heacock, 12 seniors bid tearful farewell

Senior receiver Donald Jones was named the Penguins’ MVP.

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — Nineteen years ago Jon Heacock came to Youngstown State University to be interviewed for an assistant football coaching position.

He was hired and spent seven of those years as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator and the last nine years at the school’s head football coach.

On Saturday, Heacock officially ended his stay at the University as he presided over the football team’s annual season ending awards banquet at the Kilcawley Center on campus.

“I love this place,” Heacock said. “And all the people here and there is none better than this group of football players sitting in front of me.”

Heacock resigned his head coaching position following the team’s final game, a 39-35 come-from-behind victory at North Dakota State.

In his nine seasons as head coach, Heacock compiled a 60-44 record that included two Missouri Valley Football Conference championships and one trip to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs in 2006.

Heacock praised his players especially the seniors who battled back from adversity to win the final two games of the season and preserve a winning record. The Penguins finished the year 6-5.

“What these kids did those final two football games of the year was nothing short of outstanding,” he added. “There was a lot of controversy all around them about the team and me, but they just stood up and got it done in the end.”

It was an emotional time on Saturday, especially when each of the Penguins’ 12 seniors got up and expressed their thanks for the job that their coach did for them over the years.

Assistant coach and offensive coordinator Brian Wright addressed the gathering and expressed his and the coaching staff’s thanks to Heacock for all his efforts throughout the past nine seasons.

“People don’t realize all this man has been through this past season, yet he was still there for the coaches and players and even at the end he was here to make sure that this banquet, for his players, went off as it was expected,” said Wright.

While Heacock’s final appearance as the players coach was the main topic, the team’s annual awards presentation was still a highlight of the banquet.

Senior wide receiver Donald Jones was named the John Delserone Most Valuable Player by his teammates, while the outstanding player awards went to senior end Mychal Savage on defense and senior tailback Kevin Smith on offense.

The Jim Zdelar Outstanding Offensive Lineman was junior guard Eric Rodemoyer and the Jermaine Hopkins Outstanding Defensive Lineman was senior tackle Crispin Fernandez.

Heacock spoke last to the group and addressed his players.

“Remember who you are and always remember to worship somewhere,” he told them. “And always make sure that you are with the people that you love.”

“You are going to be getting a new coach and a new staff and I expect you to treat them with respect,” he said. “And just remember that it’s all about that ‘Y’ on the door. There is no other ‘Y’ like it anywhere else in the world.”

“Today is also my senior banquet and this is it,” he concluded.

mollica@vindy.com