Mark Oliverio loved his time at Hudson’s Bay the first time he was on the coaching staff. He always had a special place in his heart for the Eagles.
So when the head football coaching position opened again this spring, he figured he was ready to take over a program.
“The stars aligned, it was the right fit, the right timing,” Oliverio said. “And I’ve just always had a connection with the school.”
Oliverio became an assistant coach for the first time in 2003 — with Hudson’s Bay. He remained there through the 2007 season before he became an assistant at Union. Last year, he helped out at Ridgefield.
Now, he is back at Bay, in charge.
“Family, work, and football — that’s how I grew up,” Oliverio said. “I knew I wanted to be head coach. I’ve always been in a leadership position in my career. It’s just natural.”
Oliverio works for SAS Retail Services and runs west coast operations. It can be a demanding job, but he said he is proud to work for a company that believes in “high school sports” and the “development of young men.”
As far as those young men at Hudson’s Bay, Oliverio is impressed.
“I’ve been pretty happy with what we’ve seen so far this summer,” he said.
The Eagles have struggled for years, picking up a total of five wins in the past five seasons. Oliverio sees a promising future.
“It starts with the kids understanding what commitment means and what responsibility is all about,” Oliverio said. “Our plan is really teaching kids the value of accountability, of something that is bigger than themselves.
“So far, the kids have done everything we’ve asked of them. I’m optimistic. They’re moving in a direction that is going to lead to a positive change.”
Oliverio also is looking forward to celebrating the successes of the program with his players after they have had to overcome two tragedies. Oliverio’s father, Achille, died as the team was preparing for its first week of spring practice, and soon after, assistant coach and Hudson’s Bay teacher Bill Brown died.
“The kids all felt his loss,” Oliverio said of Brown. “We’ll find inspiration in who he is and who he was. He’s still very much a part of this staff. He’ll find his way to inspire us.”
Oliverio’s father supported Mark his whole life, advising him to do the best job possible at whatever job he had.
Oliverio said his dad was proud to learn of his son’s first head coaching job in football.
As Mark Oliverio said, it’s about family, work, football.
He hopes to make Hudson’s Bay football one big family, too.
