Vahvistusta Crocodilesin valmennustiimiin!

08.04.2022, 13:46

Crocodiles on solminut sopimuksen amerikkalaisen valmentajan Keary Iarussin kanssa. Iarussi ottaa vastuulleen hyökkäyksen linjan valmennuksen. Ennen Suomeen saapumista Iarussi valmensi Moscow Spartansin hyökkäyksen linjaa ja hänet oli juuri nimetty sekä seurajoukkueen että Venäjän maajoukkueen hyökkäyksen koordinaattoriksi ja päävalmentajaksi. Tervetuloa Keary!

Name: Keary Iarussi
Age: 29
Playing/ coaching history (years): Six years playing, seven years coaching
Best football memory: Being around my dad and Coach Curt Kuntz at Struthers High School
Best thing in Crocs: The people!
Profession/what did you study: Translator; I studied Russian and global politics in college
Hometown: Struthers, Ohio
Other hobbies: Reading, travelling, languages, theater, podcasts on history, markets and current affairs

Tell about your football journey:
My earliest football memories are going to practices and games as a kid with my dad, who was a high school coach in Northeast Ohio for many years. I myself started playing in seventh grade, starting out as a center on the OL. I ended playing all the OL positions throughout high school, becoming a team captain and earning some minor honors my senior year. I decided against playing lower-level college football and instead took an academic scholarship to Miami University (Ohio). I thought that was the end of the journey! But, when I moved to Russia following graduation to study Russian, football found me, and I started helping out with the OL for a local team. In 2015-16, visa problems actually allowed me to be back home during the football season, and I went through a sort of mentorship with my dad and Coach Curt Kuntz. Starting in 2016, I lived more or less permanently in Russia and coached the Moscow Spartans, which in recent years became the top Russian football club. I coached the OL and, before I left because of the war, had become the OC and HC, as well as for the Russian National Team.

Describe what kind of coach you are:
I demand a lot out of myself and expect the same from my players. I also always try to find a way make myself useful on the football field and off.

How does a coach prepare for coming season in new team?
I’ve been talking a lot with Coach Bezaire, the other coaches and team leaders to learn the offense and personnel. There’s really no other way than to dive right in!

What brought you to Finland?
The Russia-Ukraine war led me to leave Russia, after which I decided that, given the uncertainty about the prospects for living and working further in Russia, I should look for other opportunities to coach and work. I was lucky that it wasn’t too late to come to Finland, and, after talking to Coach Bezaire and Timo Tuokko, I was convinced that Seinajoki was a good fit for me and that I could really help the team and organization accomplish their goals.

Did you have any expectations of Finland?
My only real experience with “Finland” is that I visited Sortavala, Karelia (in Russia) last year, so I had few expectations before arriving. Now I’m learning a little about Finland every day and enjoying the process! That said, the players, coaches and management from the Crocodiles have done everything to help me with the move and to make me feel at home.

What is the thing that you want Crocs to be especially good at?
I want us to play fast and physical and minimize mistakes.