Photos by Jim Marczesky Former Cardinal Newman head coach Michael Bolchoz talks to his players before their final game of the season with Heathwood Hall. Michael Bolchoz has decided to step down as head football coach at Cardinal Newman School effective immediately. He is handing the reins of the program over to Andy Smyth, a 21–year veteran of the coaching wars, including the last two at Cardinal Newman as defensive coordinator.

Interview with Coach Bolchoz and Coach Smyth:

GK: Coach Bolchoz, why are you stepping down at this time?

MB: The timing is right. I feel I have done all I have been able to do, football– wise. I want to watch my son Michael, who will be a redshirt freshman at Campbell next year play on Saturdays. We have someone here who can do an outstanding job in Coach Smyth. And I get to concentrate more on my job as assistant principal. GK: Do you feel you have been successful with the program?

Andy Smyth will take the reigns for Cardinal Newman. MB: I think anytime you’re head coach and don’t win, you question yourself, you look at the schemes – the x’s and o’s, etc. But while we have not had a successful won–loss record, we have been teaching responsibility and duty to our kids, and, in that aspect, the system has worked exceptionally well. In that way, we have been very successful with the program. GK: Do you have any regrets with the on–field product?

MB: I regret we couldn’t win more for the kids in the program who worked very hard for us. Sadly, that’s life, and we take it as a lesson learned. GK: What are your plans for the future?

MB: I am staying on as the assistant principal. I will also take a position in the lower levels of the football program—wherever Coach Smyth needs me.

GK: Coach Smyth, do you think you are the r ight person for this job?

AS: I do feel that I am the right person for the job. I have 21 years of experience as a coach, including in the 3A public school leagues, the 4A public school leagues, and here the last two years. I have been a coordinator on both sides of the ball. I have been on staffs of teams that have won region championships and played for state championships. I feel very comfortable taking over. GK: Is there any major overhauling in store for the Cardinals?

AS: We will have the same types of schemes. I had a hand in bringing in the schemes we have now, and the base of the program is good, discipline– wise. But a culture change needs to happen. Many of our kids come in from our feeder schools not having had a lot of exposure to football. That puts us behind some of the other schools in our region. GK: What does the team need to do to compete at a higher quali ty on the field?

AS: We need to get stronger, hit the weights. We need to add depth. We can win more, but we need the students at the school to care. We have many athletes who don’t want to play football because they look at the won–loss record and say that the team isn’t very good. We need to change that mindset, but it will be difficult. We also need the people we have to do the stuff that we have set up, like lifting weights, playing multiple sports, and so on. GK: Have you ever come into a situation like this before?

AS: I have been in this situation before. Where we are, we are looking up to where we want to be. Having the two years here helps to ease the transition. Our kids will be three– and four–year starters next year. They deserve success on the field as well as the success they have had with the system.