Veteran assistant Piron takes helm for Bulldogs

Updated: August 22, 2011 7:44PM

The good news for Dennis Piron is he finally gets to fulfill his dream to coach the Batavia football team. The even better news for the longtime assistant is the former coach, Hall-of-Famer Mike Gaspari, is still going to be with the Bulldogs.

After 26 seasons, a 139-118 overall record, 14 playoff appearances and a Class 6A state runner-up season in 2006, Gaspari retired at the end of last year as both coach and athletic director. Piron, a former player under Gaspari, a 1983 Batavia grad and defensive coordinator for the Bulldogs since 1992, took over the program in November.

“Obviously it’s a dream come true, and I love being at Batavia,” said Piron, who also coaches boys track and field in the spring. “There’s not a whole lot of change for the kids, but they are picking up where we left off.”

Gaspari will now focus only on the offense, and another longtime assistant, Matt Holm, moves into the defensive coordinator role.

“It’s very exciting and a lot of fun, but the best part is, (Gaspari) is still coaching,” Piron said. “He helps out in so many ways. What a great coach. He’s great in so many ways.”

In Gaspari’s final season, the Bulldogs just made the playoffs (seventh time in eight years) after missing an appearance in 2009. They lost in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs to Lemont. They ended up tied for second (at 4-2) in the newly formed Upstate Eight Conference River Division. They finished 5-5 overall and shut out three of their opponents.

Another Gaspari — Mike’s son, Noel — will be leading the offense again this year. He’s been the quarterback since his sophomore campaign and has gotten better every year. The 5-foot-11 senior, voted one of the team captains and most improved in 2010, finished with 1,885 yards, 16 touchdowns and only three interceptions last year. Piron has known Noel since he was born.

“Noel is a good leader, and he’s on the same page with the receivers and linemen,” Piron said. “He’s so calm and confident and the kids really believe in him. He’s very comfortable running with the ball this year, but he also has a very good receiving core ... he’s calling his own plays and is capable of commanding the offense.”

Another two-year senior starter voted team captain in 2011 is the 6-foot-6 Cole Gardner. The tight end/defensive end/linebacker finished last year with 46 tackles, a team-high eight sacks and caught 21 passes for 262 yards and two touchdowns. The 235-pounder, however, is out with a bum right knee, but should return back to action shortly.

“He’s slowly but surely coming back,” Piron said. “He can’t make contact yet, but he has a nice energy level at practice. He’s a great teammate and is doing whatever he can.”

Six starters on offense and seven on defense are back, including seniors Mack Brown and Alec Lyons (who will anchor the defense with Gardner), Nick Pappas, Kevin Schroeder (last year’s leading tackler) and Evan Zeddies, who had an outstanding summer. The top newcomers are seniors Jon Gray and Austin Lindquist, juniors Robbie Bowman, Zach Strittmatter, Marquise Jenkins (the surprise player of the summer, according to Piron) and a pair of sophomores, Anthony Thielk and Michael Moffatt.

Batavia’s first game of the season is against Marmion, last year’s Class 6A state runner-up.

“The kids are working hard,” Piron said. “I’m happy and pleased with how hard they have worked. I’m really looking forward to the start of the season.”

Batavia Bulldogs

Coach: Dennis Piron

2010 record: 5-5

Top returners: Alec Lyons (Sr., FB/DE), Cole Gardner (Sr., TE/DE), Noel Gaspari (Sr., QB), Nick Pappas (Sr., OT), Kevin Schroeder (Sr., S), Mark Brown (Sr., DT), Evan Zeddies (Sr., TE/WR).

Key newcomers: Jon Gray (Sr., WR/CB), Austin Lindquist (Sr., RB); Zach Strittmatter (Jr., WR), Robbie Bowman (Jr., S/RB), Marquise Jenkins (Jr., DE); Michael Moffatt (Soph., WR/CB), Anthony Thielk (Soph, RB/OLB).

Outlook: New coach Dennis Piron isn’t exactly new — he has been the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator since 1992. He takes over a program that was coached by Mike Gaspari, who retired as head coach and athletic director after 26 years. Gaspari, however, didn’t leave for good — he’s in charge of the offense this year, which will be led by his son, Noel. The senior has been Batavia’s quarterback the past two seasons. He and Gardner were voted this year’s team captains. The two are a part of a solid senior class ready to challenge for the River Division of the Conference. It helps the newcomers from last year’s sophomore team went 8-0-1 and won the conference, plus six starters on offense and seven starters on defense return.

Schedule

Aug. 26 Marmion 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 2 at Plainfield East 7 p.m.

Sept. 9 at Larkin 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 16 Bartlett 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 23 St. Charles East 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 30 at Geneva 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 7 Elgin 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 14 at St. Charles North 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 21 Streamwood 7:30 p.m.

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