whitcomb

Dave Whitcomb has a proven record for building Section V football champions.
He did it in Livingston County with Avon, then in the Finger Lakes with Midlakes and over the past 12 years at Geneva, which endured two straight winless seasons before he arrived in 1998. Geneva won three straight sectional titles from 2005-07 and the 2006 Class B state crown under Whitcomb.
Now he has found a new challenge. He'll try to return Fairport's once-proud program to the winner's circle.
The school board approved his hiring as coach at Wednesday night's board meeting, and athletic director Jim Zumbo said he's excited to work with the only man to have coached three different schools to Section V championships: Midlakes in 1993 (Class CC) and 1996 (B) and Avon in 1986 (Class B).
"He has a big-picture perspective on schools and what kind of commitment kids have to make," Zumbo said. "He has been a quality teacher, coach and administrator, but most importantly, he's a quality man."
Whitcomb has a career record of 182-100-4, including 72-48 at Geneva.
"I leave here with a lot of mixed emotions. Geneva is a great place - wonderful people and kids and a great coaching staff," said Whitcomb, a McQuaid and Ithaca College graduate.
"But I've always liked the challenge. I've always felt that you get to a certain point and perhaps you've done all you can do and never want to get complacent because then you don't give the kids your best."
Whitcomb is scheduled to meet his new players this afternoon.
He replaces Mike Ierlan, who resigned after the Red Raiders went 3-6 last fall. Ierlan's teams went 31-40 in eight years. He played for Whitcomb in Whitcomb's one season at Aquinas (1984) and was one of his assistants at Midlakes.
Fairport was a Section V powerhouse in the 1980s and '90s. It won 11 championships under Don Santini and Dave Lanning from 1977-98, but hasn't hoisted a trophy since. That run included seven titles in 10 years from 1989-98.
"Some of the kids today haven't seen a winning football tradition (at Fairport)," said Santini, 71. "They don't have that feeling. They don't know what it's all about, but I think (Whitcomb) is the guy to get the job done.
"He's been around. He's a little old school and I like that."
In addition to winning the 2006 state title, Geneva was 2005 state runner-up in Class A and a 2007 Class B semifinalist.
Whitcomb said the backbone of his philosophy has never changed: "No one will outwork us."
At an energetic 58, he said he wondered if another opportunity like this would come along.
"It's a new league with a lot of great coaches. I think it'll force me to be an even better coach going against some of the great programs in Monroe County," Whitcomb said.
The climb won't be easy. Santini said Fairport still has great participation numbers at the youth, modified and freshman levels, but the junior varsity roster was smaller than it should have been.
"We lost some kids at the upper levels that should be playing and Dave will have to work to get them out," Santini said.
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