SHENANDOAH - Randy Maksimik could play football as well as any player who wore the Columbia blue and white of Shenandoah Valley.
He helped to make the 1996 season one of the Blue Devils' greatest, as Shenandoah Valley started 13-0 before an 18-12 loss to Southern Columbia in the PIAA Class A Eastern final.
Now, Maksimik faces an even bigger challenge - taking over as the head football coach at his alma mater.
Maksimik accepted the job over the weekend in the wake of the sudden resignation of Mike Reese, who was appointed to replace Nick Sajone late last winter.
"It is a transition that will go smoothly," Maksimik said with confidence. "We've got a great staff of coaches who have assured me they will stay on board. That to me was a big factor. If you don't have quality coaches under you, it's very tough to succeed."
Maksimik's only other head coaching experience was during his brief time under Wally Hall at Mahanoy Area - at the junior high program.
The 34-year-old knows it's all about teamwork, a lesson he learned as a Shenandoah Valley football player under former coach Joe Ruth and as a four-year letterwinner for the Blue Devils baseball team under William "Babe'' Conroy.
Now, 17 years later, Maksimik must do all the teaching.
"It's different now from when I was an assistant,'' he said Monday. "I was more on the defensive side of the ball when I coached with Ruth, Nick (Sajone) and Wally Hall. Now I've got to oversee everything, even though I will rely on a lot of my assistants to make it work."
Maksimik thought of taking the job when it first opened up, but he was persuaded into taking over the Shenandoah Little League program, the youngest person ever to head the program since its inception in 1954.
"I was asked to be the president of the Little League, and that kind of sidetracked me," said Maksimik, who credited his wife, the former Trish Pellegrino, for encouraging him to get involved in coaching.
"She is such a strong supporter. When I thought about the (football) job, she was right there supporting me. ⦠If you don't have that support at home, you can't possibly do it. She is terrific. I can't say enough about her."
Maksimik also has received plenty of community support. He's been getting text messages since news broke over the weekend of him possibly taking the head football job.
"It's great to know you have that kind of support from all over (the community)," Maksimik said. "This is a very good job.
"People don't realize how much tradition the Blue Devils' football program has. It goes way back in time. When you're growing up, that's all you hear about before you ever get into school - Blue Devils football."
Maksimik will have much the same staff that Sajone had last season. But he wasn't taking that for granted until he met with each individual assistant Saturday and Sunday.
"I have one more (assistant) to talk to making sure he is on board with us," Maksimik said. "Mick (Jacavage) is back, (and so are) Brian Bender, Kevin (O'Boyle), Jason Berresford and Kevin Bolinsky. Mike Reese will also help out, his brother Nick Reese and my brother Jeff is volunteering. We have Chris Knapp and Andy Marnell for the junior high program.
"That makes the transition very good and a smooth one, which was a big concern. The players know all of us, so that too is a big factor. I'm meeting (today) at 3 p.m. with our players. I want to assure them that everything will be just fine. It's just a new face telling them what to do."
As for his Little League duties, which he jumped in both feet and with a passion, he said he has support there, too.
"Billy Conroy (Babe's oldest son) is the vice president and when I told him that I was going to need his help, he told me go right ahead. He will take over some of the duties,'' Maksimik said.
"I'm a (special education) teacher at Mahanoy Area, and I do it with passion and all out.''
Randy Maksimik knows no other way.