2008 Woodie Awards
New Football Coach Jump-Starts Players, Stresses Recruiting
Anne B. Falcetano
Issue date: 2/23/06 Section: Sports
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But unlike the majority of those in the cafeteria, Robertson is hard at work. He is hosting a prospective member of the Seahawk football team, and the player's parents. Announced on Feb. 6, Robertson is Salve's new and first full-time football coach, and this casual lunch meeting is as essential to his team as his coaching on the football field will be.
That's because one of Robertson's major challenges is recruiting players for what the university hopes will be a re-energized football program.
For this coach of 10 years, taking time to meet face-to-face with recruits is especially important. So when Robertson is finished with these visitors, he will return to his new basement office in Rodgers and carry on with the task of rounding up more prospects.
As the one month mark approaches for Robertson, more than 30 prospective football players have visited Salve. Along with help from returning players, Robertson says he has hopes of building a team with depth.
In his last coaching position at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, the team was fortunate to have a larger roster, the opposite of his first coaching job at Siena College where he sometimes found himself jumping in and participating in practices.
According to Robertson, a larger team can help inspire players to become more competitive for positions,and in case of injury there are well-prepared players ready to fill in on short notice during games.
Athletic Director Del Malloy has commented that increased recruiting is one of the benefits that will come with a full-time coach, helping to bring the program to the next level.
However, the existing players are a large part of the new coach's role as well. "My first recruits are the returning players in the Seahawk program," Robertson said.
The existing players are crucial to a successful first season. They will be critical of their new coach after having played for his predecessor.
At his first meeting with the team, Robertson took the opportunity to make his first impression with the players and begin to get them refocused, hoping to bring a fundamental excitement for football out of the players.