State of the Program: Can Bill Regan add 'a little spice' to Morris Knolls football?
Not much has changed at Morris Knolls over the decades. That's just the way head coach Bill Regan likes it.
Heading into his 48th season at the helm, Regan still teaches the Veer offense to each incoming Golden Eagles class. How quickly the players learn tends to determine their success.
With 15 seniors and 14 juniors, there are plenty of veterans this year. But the largest class consists of 40 freshmen, which Regan credits to the youth football coaches in Rockaway Township and Denville.
"They've kept enthusiasm high and they attract good numbers," he said. "They make it fun for the kids, which is the way it should be. We have our laughs every day, but we still get to work pretty hard too."
Tradition
The Golden Eagles won four NJSIAA sectional titles: 1994, 1995 and 1996, and North 1, Group 4 in 2005. They have 21 playoff appearances and have played in eight title games.
Regan, meanwhile, stands at 274 career victories, all at Morris Knolls.
'Old school but it works:' Morris Knolls keeping football in the family
Challenge
Regan sees "a lot of parity" in Morris Knolls' SFC Liberty White schedule. It looks like the old-school Iron Hills Conference Iron Division, with Roxbury, Randolph, West Morris and Morristown. The Golden Eagles also visit sister school Morris Hills on Oct. 7.
But amid a growing slate of Week Zero games, Morris Knolls won't play until Week 1 at Roxbury, which is what Regan prefers.
"I know I'm old fashioned, but I believe you have to teach them to block and tackle before you play games. You've got to at least have a foundation," he said.
Expectations
Morris Knolls appears to be on an upswing, finishing above .500 for two years in a row thanks in part to a camaraderie Regan still sees in the current group. Even after graduating 15 seniors, Regan expects to do just as well this fall. The key may be how long it takes opponents to adjust to the unfamiliar Veer.
"We are who we are, but we try to add a little something here and there, a little spice in the recipe," he said. "We've been doing the same thing so long, people forget what we're doing. They know we're weird, different."
2023 Morris/Sussex football team-by-team preview capsules
2023 schedule
Sept. 1: at Roxbury
Sept. 9: vs. Parsippany Hills
Sept. 14: vs. Watchung Hills
Sept. 22: at Morristown
Sept. 30: vs. West Morris
Oct. 7: at Morris Hills
Oct. 14: vs. Mount Olive
Oct. 20: at Randolph
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: NJ football 2023 preview: Bill Regan bringing spice to Morris Knolls?
