I Have a Great Story about Army’s New Head Football Coach Jeff Monken
December 23, 2013
I LOVE Army Football.
As a member of Army’s A-Club, a season ticket holder in football, a courtside season ticket holder in men’s and women’s basketball, and a season ticket holder in ice hockey, it’s safe to say that I’m somewhat excited about the news I read on footballscoop.com after arriving home late from Philadelphia following a Philadelphia Eagles victory.
NOTHING beats spending the day at West Point. On my way to West Point from Scranton, Pennsylvania, I usually stop off at Woodbury Commons, Cosimos, or my all-time favorite, the Best Western Inn at Hunt’s Landing. The 90-100 minute trek to West Point brings back some amazing memories throughout the 90s, 2000s, and today.
In 2010, I decided to host a Triple Option-based football coaches’ clinic at Lackawanna College in Scranton. The purpose was to increase the level of authenticity of information to coaches from coaches who were masters in the field.
First, I got in contact with my dear friend, Mick Yokitis, who at the time was the Head Football Coach at the Naval Academy Prep School. He agreed to be the first speaker and gave a phenomenal presentation on Triple Option organization.
Next, I got in contact with another dear friend, Tom Simi, who at the time was the Head Football Coach at the United States Military Academy Preparatory School. He agreed to speak on fundamentals of Triple Option Offensive Line blocking and did an incredible job as well.
Then, I was at West Point football practice and I asked Army Head Football Coach, Rich Ellerson if he would like to speak at the clinic. Since the clinic was a 90 minute drive from his West Point home, I humbly asked him to speak. Coach Ellerson, in typical fashion, with his consistent “I just bench pressed the whole world smug on his face” said to me that he was too busy. Then, he walked away. Anybody who knows Coach Ellerson has probably experienced this type of a reaction from him.
During this time, I called Georgia Southern Head Football Coach, Jeff Monken, who I had met many years ago at a football clinic in Allentown (PA) and had communicated with since that day. Coach Monk immediately called me back. He said, “Lou, the weekend you’re having the clinic is one of the few weekends I actually have off from doing anything, and I’d really like to spend it with my wife and girls; however, if you really want me to speak, I’m there.”
So Coach Monk agreed to speak for EIGHT hours on the Triple Option Offense.
I picked up Coach Monk at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, and while we were driving on I-81 just south of Scranton, my phone rang. At that time, I had the Army Fight Song as my ringtone. Coach Monk looked at me and said, “You do realize we never lost to those guys in the six years I was at Navy?”
I said I did.
He then, jokingly of course, asked me if I was some type of a communist. I told him I was a Republican and he said that he was a card-carrying Democrat. Since my mentor, the late Triple Option Guru, Reverend Jerry Easton was a minister, born-again Christian, full-timer in the Navy, and a Democrat, I graciously accepted Coach Monk’s answer.
For the coaches that were in attendance during those eight hours, it was like listening to Vince Lombardi discussing the Packer Sweep. Coach Monken went through all 11 positions and all the vital details on each position–on one play… the Triple Option. Monk did this for over five hours.
This was a LOT of information. Coach Monk and Eric Mangini, current ESPN analyst and former Browns and Jets Coach were the two best clinic speakers I have heard to this day.
After the clinic, we retreated back to the Hilton Scranton Hotel to socialize. Coach Monk, Tom Simi, and I talked a lot of football and a lot about life. Monk told me how much he ADORED Statesboro and Georgia Southern, now in his second stint. He served as an assistant at Georgia Southern under Paul Johnson.
I now know how hard it is for Monk to leave Statesboro–but Army Football really needs him and Triple Option Football coaches throughout North American and even Europe (Leeds Metropolitan University runs Triple Option in England) need Monk too.
It’s amazing where GOD puts us in society. Four years later, after Coach Monk busted me for my Army Fight Song ringtone, Coach Monk now represents the United States Military Academy at West Point’s top athletic program.
I know I’ll be at his first practice to support him.
Congrats Coach Monk!
May GOD bless all of you and Merry Christmas. –Lou Cella
Triple Option Football Academy — Online Education for Football Coaches
