The advantage of having the same head coach for 23 years is a definite asset in its continuity but that doesn’t mean there’s no room for new ideas at Geneva College.
Geneva head coach Geno DeMarco is set to enter his 23rd year leading the Geneva Golden Tornadoes, and this year he’ll enter the season with former NFL player, Bruce Figgins, working with his tight ends.
After DeMarco applied to the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) coaching internship, the NFLPA paired the Golden Tornadoes football program with 6’4, 280 pound, tight end who had a stellar career at Georgia and went on to make the Baltimore Ravens practice squad.
“I filled out an internship application late last year,” explained Bruce. “I did a couple interviews with Mr. Connor Ford, we did three or four interviews speaking on who I am as a person and a coach along with my aspirations and where I see myself and so we went from there.”
“I gave him three locations of my preference, I mentioned to him Pennsylvania because my sister just accepted an assistant basketball coaching position and he mentioned there that Geneva was one of the schools that was participating in the internship.”
Bruce’s twin sister, Patience was hired on June 1, 2015 as Geneva’s assistant women’s basketball coach. Patience had just completed her graduate degree program at Waynesburg University when head coach Lori Wynn started the search for her next full time assistant coach.
“It is really fun and cool to be at the same school with my sister”, said Bruce. “We spent high school away from each other, she was at Columbus High School and I was at Shaw High School. In college, she went to South Carolina State and finished at Fort Valley State while I attended the University of Georgia and now we are here at the same school working.”
“It’s a blessing in my eyes to have him here, said Patience. “He is passionate about what he is doing. He is in his element and that is clear after watching him outside during practice. We are both doing what we love.”
“Excited,” was Bruce’s word to explain his reaction to the news he was going to be coaching the GTs. “Being at the high school level for the past two and a half years, I had great times in Jefferson, Louisiana and now just being able to get more experience at a bigger stage being here at Geneva is exciting.”
“This will be my first time on the offensive side of the ball coaching.”
Bruce coached the D-line and outside linebackers during his two and half year coaching stints in Louisiana.
Bruce has already been put to work as the Golden Tornadoes reported to camp on Tuesday, August 11. “It has been great. Coaches, we are working hard, starting early and finishing late, we are trying to give ourselves the edge and our guys the extra edge to get better every day. I am pleased and I think Coach Geno is as well.”
Head Coach Geno DeMarco expressed, “to be able to get a fellow with experience he has in an outstanding thing. And to get a coach with character as well is something we need. He is a very good fit for us at Geneva. I’d like to thank the NFLPA for selecting us as a sponsored school and providing coach Figgins.”
Van Zanic, Athletic Director at Geneva College said, “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with the NFLPA on their coaching internship program. Having the opportunity to help mentor a young coach with the qualifications that Bruce has is exciting for our football staff and our entire program. Bruce has already proven to be a great fit for Geneva College and I’m confident he will make a great impact upon our young student-athletes while also having the opportunity to grow as a coach through the leadership of Coach DeMarco and an outstanding staff.”
Geneva will open its season on Saturday, September 5 in a home game against Frostburg State with kickoff at 7 p.m.
Geneva College invites students to step forward with an academically excellent, Christ-centered and affordable education. Offering nearly 40 undergraduate majors, Adult Degree Programs with fully online and campus-based options, and high-demand advanced graduate degrees, Geneva's programs are recognized for their high quality. U.S. News & World Report ranks Geneva as a Top 10 Best Value with one of the Top 100 engineering programs in the nation. Adhering to the inerrancy of Scripture, a Geneva education is grounded in God’s word as well as in a core curriculum designed to prepare students vocationally to think, write and communicate well in today’s world.
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