After resurrecting the team nearly 11 years ago when he first got the job, the now veteran head coach is back. The anticipation will not be met without an expectation level, as a culture shift and restoration of the once 12 month program is necessary.
Dwidar was the youngest ever coach to inherit the leadership reins, accepting the job at just 23. At the time, his intiative was to change the culture and build a team concept and an identity. The team captured a Section 1 championship, thriving with the formidable tandem of Sean Daly and Chris Marchese, both then lseniors that the then rookie coach implored to lead by example.
Onward and upward Dwidar and the Blue Devils went. The program scored two Section 1 titles in Dwidar’s first four seasons.
They played year round, adapting to the focus of a travel team or prestigious club soccer team by playing in indoor leagues in the winter and spring and summer leagues. The culture developed before it eventually faltered and the environment changed significantly.
Dwidar embarked on a coaching odyssey that included a stop at Walter Panas as an assistant. Through the hiatus from Haldane, he admittedly missed the tight knit culture and also the responsibilities and structure of being a head coach.
The initiative is to once again develop the close knit culture which helped turn the program around 11 years ago.
That team lacked depth and the strength in numbers in a conference with established Class AA foes. They atoned for it, however, with a conditioned core that relished playing together.
With a season that will start late and ultimately be truncated due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Dwidar said conditioning and arriving at the doorstep in top notch shape is integral for this team. It is an essential part of the culture.
The veteran coach, who in addition to two Section 1 championships also won a league championship during his previous regime, said he and his staff are prioritizing safety first and foremost.
