2022 With Head Coach Corey Dye Paint Valley Bearcats

Tagged under: Beyond The Keystone, News

David Burnworth | July 6, 2022

Head Coach: Corey Dye

 Paint Valley Bearcats (Ohio)

Twitter: @CoachDye1

Going into last season, you had to replace basically both lines. The new group has a year under their belt. What do you expect from them this season?

We had to replace five lineman starters from the 2020 season, so we knew that there would be some growing pains up front. I felt like our kids accepted the challenge, worked extremely hard all season long, and made huge strides by the end of the year. Being so young last year should help us for this upcoming season. We are expecting big things from our offensive line this year. We have Kaden Henderson, Roman Wisecup, Peyton Bell, and though Dakota Tennant didn’t start offensively, he started on the defensive line.

You guys are coming off of a 5-5 season. What are the biggest things you guys need to work on to get better? You guys really played a tough non-league schedule, and I know that played a part in the growing pains.

The biggest thing we need to improve on is our offensive consistency. There were times last season that we didn’t finish drives like we needed to. We kept our defense on the field way too long at times. This summer we will focus really hard on our passing game with 7 on 7’s. We have some dynamic WRs and we need to get the ball to them as often as we can. Cole Miller, Dax Estep, and Mike Perrone are guys who played for us last season and are guys who we think are going to have a great year for us. We also have some younger guys who we think will make an impact as well. When you can put together a balanced attack on offense, it makes it very difficult to defend you. We need to improve in all phases of the game. Offense, defense, and special teams have all got to be fundamentally sound in order for us to have a great year. Our non-conference schedule being so difficult is what will help prepare us for the SVC. Our number one goal is to win the SVC! We feel like if we can compete with our non-conference opponents and win the SVC, then we can do really well in the playoffs.

This is always a tough question for coaches. With that in mind, which player or players from last year’s teams will be missed the most? Why?

I’m going, to be honest; I will miss every one of the seniors I had last season. I feel like every one of them had their own unique talent that they displayed. Each possessed a level of toughness that was desirable. I’m going to miss every one of them!

The Bearcats have a lot of talent heading into the 2022 season. Two players I want to ask about

Cavan Cooper, and Dom Chambers. Cooper is a stud who seems to be able to do almost everything. How big of a season can you see him playing? And how much of a leader will he be on and off the field? If he stays healthy, Chambers could be a major force. What do you expect from him?

Cavan Cooper is one of the hardest workers I have ever coached. When Cavin isn’t in the weight room lifting weights or throwing a football, he is at AP PREP working on his speed and agility, and explosiveness trying to get better every single day. Cavan is a great role model for his teammates and all of the other kids at paint valley. Cavan is doing everything that he needs to do to prepare himself for the upcoming season. Cavan has plans to play college football and I have no doubt that he will. I really feel like Cavan is going to have an incredible senior year.

Dom is another outstanding athlete that we have on our team. I feel like he has yet to showcase what he can truly do. Dom works extremely hard in the weight room and on the track. Dom plays RB and DE for us and will be one of our most explosive players that we have on our team. We feel like Dom is going to have a great year for us.

Is it important for the JV team to run the same system as the varsity? If so, why? If not, why?

We feel like our JV program is just as important as the varsity program. Our JV program runs the same offense and defense as our varsity. The purpose of having a JV program is to build for the future and to get them ready to play on Fridays. Our coaching staff does a great job of developing our players and getting them ready to play. I try to attend most, if not all, of the JV games so I can support their efforts and watch them grow.

What is the most difficult thing about coaching at a smaller school?

The most difficult thing about coaching at a smaller school is always going to be the numbers. Our depth chart is going to look a lot different than anyone else we play. Our kids play both sides of the ball, unlike a lot of schools that we play against. We are the smallest school in the SVC and in this area, and we play schools that are at a D4, D5, or D6 level, and we take pride in that! Our total enrollment is around 106 boys total, which should put us at D7. We are fortunate that there is a rich football tradition here at PV. So, football is really important to our kids and our community, so we have a lot of kids who love playing.

Since you have been at Paint Valley, you have gone above and beyond as far as the way you treat me at the games. Win or lose, no matter how busy you are, you find time to talk not only to me but to all of the media who come up to you. How hard is it to do this after a tough defeat? 

It’s really not hard at all. Talking to the media, win or lose, is about promoting Paint Valley and our kids. You do an excellent job with your articles and getting kids’ exposure, and we really appreciate all you do!

This is a repeat of a question I asked you last year when we did this. What are you looking most forward to this coming season?

Everything! I love coaching football and I love this football program! We are blessed at Paint Valley with great players, coaches, parents, and the best fans around!

Playing on the road can be tough. Which road trip do you feel will be the toughest for you this season?

Washington Court House will be the most difficult road game. Unioto will be another tough road game for us. Both teams have some very talented athletes on their football teams.

Who is your favorite all-time athlete?

My favorite athlete of all time is Bo Jackson. He was and still is, the greatest athlete to ever play! There wasn’t anything he couldn’t do! “BO KNOWS!” As a kid growing up, I loved watching him play football and baseball on TV. I would love to one day meet him in person.

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