With the success of the Griffin’s Football team this year, after being in only the fourth season of the program, the players as well as the coaches are starting to get some recognition for their hard work throughout this season.
In this season alone, the Griffins were able to win more games than in their three previous seasons combined and made their first ever post-season appearance in the team’s history, when they won against American International on November 15th in a 14-7 outcome.
By Chelsea Oliver
Sports Editor
With the success of the Griffin’s Football team this year, after being in only the fourth season of the program, the players as well as the coaches are starting to get some recognition for their hard work throughout this season.
In this season alone, the Griffins were able to win more games than in their three previous seasons combined and made their first ever post-season appearance in the team’s history, when they won against American International on November 15th in a 14-7 outcome.
The Griffins are bound to be good on the field, with team members like senior Andrew DeMase, named to College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District Football Team; and with five players, juniors Antwarn Jones, Sammy Tranks, and Matt Galadyk and seniors A.J. Erni and David Wess, named first team all WVIAC.
Along with senior, Matt Johnson and sophomore, Steve Trent named second team all WVIAC, and five more players; seniors, Derek Thompson and Mark Hartz, juniors Jimmy Funk and Darnell Jones and freshman, Zach Delo named to All WVIAC Team as Honorable Mention.
Though the Griffins may have some strong players on the field, they needed a strong leader on the sidelines and this season they found that leader in head coach, Joel Dolinski.
Dolinski, who was an assistant coach for the first three years of Griffin football, is now in the running for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award. Dolinski said “I would be humbled by the award, but I believe in trying to do the best you can. I believe in hard work and discipline and I would stick to that.”
The Seton Hill University (SHU) community has become more aware of Dolinski’s running through the use of global emails, sent by avid supporter and secretary to the president, Carol Zola. “Coach Dolinski is more than a football coach. He is coaching a group of young men in the rules of life, how to think before acting, how to act with integrity, honor, and respect and how to be fair and just and tolerant,” said Zola.
Currently, Dolinski is second in Division II, just behind John Luckhardt, the head coach for SHU’s second postseason opponent, California University of Pennsylvania (Cal U).
As Jaimie Steele, the director of activities and commuter life said, “The opportunity to receive such recognition is such a wonderful opportunity for Coach Dolinski, and the university as a whole.”
Even though winning this honor would be great for Dolinski, he has kept his eye on his team and how to make them a greater success. “I would expect for us to keep improving. We cannot get complacent and we cannot spend too much time patting ourselves on the back. We must move forward and always move forward because when you stand still you are going backwards because someone else is passing you,” said Dolinski.
He has also kept his eye on the future of the team. “Our goal is to win WVIAC Championships, to further shine the spotlight of success on Seton Hill University. The football program will continue to recruit quality individuals to be a part of it and to properly represent our university in a positive way,” said Dolinski.
However, as Dolinski and his team are fighting for wins on the field, the SHU community and other supporters can fight for them by voting for Dolinski as head coach of the year at www.coachoftheyear.com.
“[The award] signifies not only the hard work that the football coaches and team have put forth, but also the commitment and support that the entire community has provided for our athletics program,” said Steele.
“I think this year will be something we can build on. The bar has been raised, now we want to compete for and win championships,” Dolinski said.
With voting ending on December 4th, there is still time to help Dolinski bring another win to SHU this year. Under his direction the Griffins have been able to improve and become greater than many expected, and now it is time to give back to a man that has given so much.
Although, whether he wins the award or not, Dolinski is proud of his team, and SHU as a whole. “I would like to thank everyone for their support. I often wonder if our record was reversed and we finished 2-9 rather than 9-2 would people still care.” Dolinski said, “I honestly believe that here at Seton Hill, the answer would be yes. I am proud to be a part of our University.”
