August 3, 2010
Glover finds second chance at Ferris
New Ferris head coach Rich Glover instructs his players during practice.
Click Here for more photos from Ferris Summer Practice.
By Jason Bernstein
Editorial Director
JERSEY CITY – When the Jersey City Board Education decided to eliminate the Dickinson football program, Rich Glover was a coach without a team. After spending more than 25 seasons as a coach, Glover was prepared for a fall of traveling, watching football and spending more time with his family.
“You’ve to pick yourself back up,” Glover said. “You’ve got to get busy living, or you get busy dying. You get busy living and you just do other things.”
Those plans were put on hold for at least another year when Glover was named as the new head coach of Ferris in late June.
For the 60-year-old Glover, the job represented not just a return to coaching, but another opportunity to make an impact in his hometown of Jersey City. During the summer, he hosts a free youth clinic through his Richard Glover All Access to Life Foundation. Glover also runs the NFL High School Player Development program for high school students.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” said Glover, a standout at Snyder before having a Hall of Fame career at Nebraska and a stint in the NFL. “Giving back to my community and giving back to the kids in my area in Jersey City.”
Glover’s first stint as a head coach in his hometown did not have the outcome he was seeking. Last season was an especially challenging season for Glover and the Rams as the team struggled to field enough players to continue through a 0-9 campaign. Playing with as few as 20 players at one point during the season, Glover and his team knew that there was a good chance that the program would not continue in 2010.
“It was something that happened. I had no control over it,” Glover said. “It hurts, but you know that’s how life is. You just do what you have to do and you have to move forward.”
Glover admitted that he has made some changes in his coaching style and staff this season. He also has a renewed optimism at Ferris. Last year the Bulldogs went just 3-7, but with a winning record in each of the previous four seasons, there’s a confidence and foundation that was missing at Dickinson.
“There’s a lot of swagger with the group,” Glover said. “The kids want to win. They come every day and they want to be coached. I think it’s going to be a successful year.”