By Greg Gulas

sports@vindy.com

LEETONIA

As a veteran scholastic assistant coach who lists stops locally at Liberty and Woodrow Wilson high schools, as well as Georgia State University during its 2010 maiden campaign, Hadi Hadi knows all too well Leetonia’s rich football tradition.

In his first season with the Inter-Tri County League team as well as his initial head coaching assignment, Hadi’s first challenge will be to reinvigorate a program that has won just three games over the past two seasons while suffering through only one winning campaign and just three non-losing years since 2008.

“The talent is definitely here and these kids want to win, but this group has yet to experience a winning season and is chomping at the bit for the season to get underway,” Hadi said. “We feel as if we’re on the right track and they’ve definitely bought into our system, which is a major plus.

“We have 10 seniors on our roster and 13 very experienced juniors, yet getting back to the fundamentals was our top priority. Strong senior leadership is what will ensure any success we expect to have so experiencing success early is going to be a big boost. Winning has that snowball effect.”

It has been an exciting and challenging time for Hadi and the Bears’ assistant coaches.

“It looked like less of a challenge from the outside looking in, but once we got going we realized that we had a lot of work to do and the kids have really responded,” Hadi said. “As a coaching staff we want to give the kids what they deserve and that is our best every time we practice or play. It’s definitely been a lot of fun thus far.”

OFFENSE

The Bears will run a double-wing, flex offense with multiple sets.

Isaac Stecker and Danny McCool, both juniors, are battling for the starting quarterback assignment while Brady Shepherd, Jake Hupp, Roman Ferry and Joey Suggett are featured backs.

Devon Champney and Suggett are the wide receivers.

The offensive line returns a core of seniors with varsity experience with Connor Mellinger returning at center, Cameron Hitchcock, Brandon Smith and Michael Buffone rotating at guard and Seth Whittemore and Jake Henrey the tackles.

DEFENSE

Their 4-4 defense includes Derek Bell at nose guard and Mellinger at tackle, with Henrey and both Smith and Whittemore at end.

Hupp and Shepherd are the inside linebackers while Stecker, Champney and Buffone are set to roam the outside.

The secondary includes Suggett at safety, and both McCool and Ferry at the corners.

Shepherd and McCool are the punters while Douglas Rhodes and Tanner Tullis the placekicking hopefuls.

OUTLOOK

Hadi is a student of the game and a coach who loves a challenge.

The components for a winning season are in place so success early on will determine how the season unfolds. The Bears need to see the fruits of their labor early before tackling a challenging league slate.

“Winning and losing is contagious and this team understands that. Getting back to their winning ways is the goal,” Hadi said.