Benet aims to build on break-even season

Updated: July 11, 2011 12:38PM

Benet head football coach Pat New accomplished a lot his first year, teaching and coaching.

On the field, the Redwings went 5-5 and made the playoffs before getting clobbered by eventual 7A champion Wheaton Warrenville South.

Still, New had a lot to be proud about in taking a team without the enrollment of the Tigers, without the size and skill of Montini and without the offensive system of Joliet Catholic and making the players believe.

Now he has to make that progress hold up in the face of a 2011 season that returns very little at the skill positions.

“They say Year 2 is a lot easier,” New said at Saturday’s 7-on-7 passing competition at Downers South. “You get to modify things. You get caught up. That’s how I feel as a coach. We’re getting things into place, building structure. It takes time. I see why a lot of these job openings they want prior head coaching experience. I was like ‘What’s the big deal?’ Now I see why. There’s so many duties to do outside of just calling plays.”

Senior Nick Mankowski returns at quarterback and is first choice for the position, but is in a battle with Neuqua Valley transfer Kevin Weller.

Both are athletic, strong armed throwers, so depending on which way New wants to go to replace near-1,000-yard running back E.J. Howe or wide receiver Connor Nelligan, one or the other could use their athleticism at either of those positions.

“Nick is such an athlete that we could use him at running back or receiver,” New said. “Plus there’s some concern over the concussion he had last year. He was hit hard a couple times. It’s harder to replace a quarterback than a wide receiver and that being the case Nick is still the front-runner for the job. ... Kevin is a big, strong kid. He’s another one that’s athletic enough that if he doesn’t play quarterback he can play fullback, wide receiver or tight end.”

The versatile Nelligan, who caught everything, punted and played defensive back, is probably the hardest to replace.

“I was thinking about that. I think he already had three or four picks by this point last season,” said New jokingly.

During Saturday’s drills, wide receiver Bobby Hayes stood out. New is also hoping Stephan Cahill can be the new Nelligan, but if not, he’s going to keep tweaking things until he gets the right fit.

And that’s the benefit to being in Year 2.

“Summer time is a lot like going to the golf range and working on your swing,” New said. “You’re going to try out a few things, see what’s good and see what sticks.”

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