Sports
�������������������������� Sherbee Antiques TOP DOLLAR PAID
����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
Holy Cross alum returns as coach
BY JENNA BAGCAL
A Holy Cross High School
alum and former football player
is back with the Knights to
coach a new generation of student
athletes.
This September, the Flushing
school welcomed John J.
McArdle as the head junior
varsity football coach. Growing
up, McArdle said that he
“always loved the game” and
exceeded on the field, where
played left guard on the offensive
line through college.
Prior to returning to his
alma mater, McArdle was the
coach and president of the
Whitepoint Youth Football
League. During his tenure,
he “fell in love” with coaching
and teaching the kids life
lessons through the sport,
including discipline, respect
and accountability.
“Everyone wants to win
and not make mistakes. But
I think we’re doing our job
if we make the kids ready for
the real world,” said McArdle.
“I believe in them, so I
need them to believe in themselves.
You’re gonna make
mistakes in the classroom,
at home and at work but try
not to make the same mistake
twice.”
According to McArdle, he
is a “hard coach” who “demands
perfection but doesn’t
expect it.” In addition to repetition
and drilling exercises,
he uses positive reinforcement
to garner the desired
results from his players.
“I don’t get on them when
they do something wrong, I
John J. McArdle (top left) decked in Holy Cross Knights green. Photo courtesy of John J. McArdle
appreciate them when they’ve
learned,” he said. “The kids
are at an age where parents
and teaching tell them what
to do and what not to do. I talk
to them as an adult and treat
them as an equal. It helps
them open up and feel more
comfortable.”
Timothy Smith, the head
varsity football coach at Holy
Cross, has known McArdle
since he was 14 years old when
he played football with his
son. Smith joined Holy Cross
as a junior varsity coach from
1997 to 1999. After working at
other institutions in the early
2000s, he became an assistant
John is passionate and has the right
intentions, not just about the sport but
about teaching life lessons and molding
young men into good citizens, good
husbands and good fathers.
Timothy Smith
Varsity coach
coach in 2012 and was named
head varsity coach in 2015.
“John is passionate and
has the right intentions, not
just about the sport but about
teaching life lessons and
molding young men into good
citizens, good husbands and
good fathers,” Smith said.
As the JV coach, Smith
said that it is McArdle’s responsibility
to get players
ready for “the next level” on
the varsity team.
“He’s done a good job assembling
kids together for one
common goal and upholding
the reputation of the school,”
Smith said.
The team practices four
days a week and plays games
on Saturday.
Their next game is at 10
a.m. on Sept. 28, when the
Knights will face off against
St. Francis Preparatory
School.
HELP YOU FIND YOUR POT OF GOLD S h Aernbtiequees Est. 1940
TOP DOLLAR PAID
Instant Cash
LET SHERBEE ANTIQUES’ OVER 60 YEARS EXPERIENCE
������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
���������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������
TIMESLEDGER,TIMESLEDGER.COM BT SEPT. 27-OCT. 3, 2019 37
/TIMESLEDGER,TIMESLEDGER.COM
