BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
Rick Firth has a strong vision for the
storied Sudbury Spartans football franchise.
Firth also knows he has a major challenge in
front of him, but with a keen insight into the game and
innovative approaches to players, he expects to field a team
that will start to change attitudes in Sudbury towards the
Spartans.
"I think we have a great opportunity to bring
the Spartans to another level," said Firth. "Kids putting on
jerseys in the Joe MacDonald Football League should be looking
up to the Spartans as role models. I want the players looked up
to, and not just looked at. I have only been in Sudbury for
three
years, but I know the history is here, and
this franchise is a class organization."
Firth was on the sidelines last season,
playing a smaller role with the coaching staff. As the 2004
season progressed, Firth worked with the
defence, and finally, at the end of the
season, he became head coach after the club dismissed John
MacLean from his bench boss duties.
Firth is excited to have the Spartans right
from the start of a new season.
"I have no greater pleasure in life than
working with athletes," said Firth. "I got to know the athletes
as the season wore on last year. There's some great leadership
and skills on this team, and I can't wait to work with
them."
Firth makes no bones about the fact he's a
player's coach, but will expect an honest effort each night the
team goes into battle.
"You have to understand your athletes and
what makes them tick at this level," said Firth. "You have to
adjust your approach depending on who you're dealing with. I
have really done my job if a player contributes to the team's
success because with team success comes individual
success."
Firth, despite missing the glory years of the
Spartans in the 80s and early 90s when Sid Forster was at the
helm winning championships, feels
pressure to field a winning squad.
"There's always pressure on a coach," said
Firth. "It comes from the players, the community, but for me,
mostly the pressure comes from within. I don't like failure. In
all my years of coaching, I have had only one losing season. I
am not out for the silver medal. I want the gold. Last year, we
finished 5-3. Do I want to repeat? No. I want to go 8-0."
Firth also has his eyes set on the Spartans'
clubhouse, and wants to revamp the atmosphere.
"I want to create an environment that the
athletes will respect and appreciate in the club house."
Firth, who hails from Winnipeg, brings an
impressive coaching resume from Manitoba.
He played football through to the junior
level, and then coached every level from bantam to high school
to university.
Prior to last season, Firth had been out of
coaching since 1983, but found it quite easy to jump back
into.
"I found once I was on the field again, it
was like riding a bike," said Firth. "The game hasn't changed
that much. The players have, but the techniques haven't."
Firth is on the lookout for additional
coaching staff, especially coaches that can work with the
offence and the defence, targeting the linebackers.
Anyone interested can e-mail a resume to
[email protected] or mail to Sudbury Spartans
Football Club, P.O. Box 454, Copper
Cliff, Ontario, POM 1NO.
