In sports, a new coach can bring a new dawn for a team. It’s been no secret that Fluvanna football has struggled over the years, so with the coaching resignation of Coach Jason Barnett, there was a hole left in the coaching staff that needed to be filled. Despite the struggles faced, Fluvanna and its loyal fans haven’t lost hope, and of those loyal fans who stands out in particular is Steven Szarmach, who was recently named the new varsity football coach for 2015. “Once there was an opening, I just applied, and it all went well from there,” said Szarmach, who coached football at a number of schools within the Jefferson District.

“My way of coaching is different from everyone else’s, obviously, as every coach is different, but I have a lot of experience with football,” said Szarmach, who not only brings football coaching experience, but is familiar with the players as well. In fact, Szarmach has been a part of Fluvanna’s coaching staff for years, the current track and Power Team coach, and is a physical education teacher as well.

“Szarmach is an awesome dude and him being the new coach really makes me look forward to what is in store for us next year as a team,” said junior Kaine Williams.

Every year in every high-school sport, history-experienced seniors leave, but Szarmach has already planned ahead to fill that gap, hoping to do somewhat of a rebuilding process and to bring the success that Fluvanna football fans have long awaited. “I’m really hoping to bring in a few new players to work with, and with conditioning coming up in summer, I’d like to see some new faces,” he said. Szarmach said the way he plans to bring in those recruits is by word of mouth and hoping that “everyone [will] spread the word and try to bring other athletic guys in.”

Students interested in joining either the JV or Varsity football team for the 2015-2016 season should see Szarmach in the Main Gym.