Coach leaves football family for another tour of duty in Iraq

By JOHN D’ABRUZZO

jd’abruzzo@ncnewsonline.com

Mike Crawford has been to Iraq before.

He’s dealt with leaving his wife, Corri, and their three daughters, Alyssa, 18, Ashlee, 16, and Alexis, 13, to go to war twice over the past 20 years.

But this time, it’s a little different.

The New Wilmington resident had to leave his other family — the Wilmington High football team.

A 39-year-old E6 staff sergeant in the Army National Guard, Crawford has served as the Greyhounds’ strength and conditioning coach as a volunteer assistant for the past five seasons.

“It’s been a big hit to leave,” Crawford said. “I’ll always continue to be a family man first, but leaving those boys was a big hit, too. I’ve been with them since they were freshmen and they’re a great bunch of guys. They’re a special group, so it was very tough leaving the team.”

Wilmington’s last game against Sharon last Friday was Crawford’s last with the team. He left for Mississippi for training the following day. After the Greyhounds earned a 42-7 victory against the Tigers, the team awarded Crawford with the game ball.

“That was very special,” Crawford said. “We call it Sharon Week, so the entire week was exciting. Something happens during that week where the kids work harder on the field and in the weight room. They shift into a whole other gear.

“So it was real hard saying goodbye.”

MILITARY MAN

Crawford is a 1988 graduate of Laurel High. He starred for the Spartans in football and track before joining the Marines out of high school.

His first deployment to Iraq was in 1990 when he served with the Marine Corps 1st Division during Operation Desert Storm. Following the 9-11 attacks, Crawford re-enlisted in the National Guard and was sent back to Iraq for 15 months between 2003-04.

Crawford is now a part of the 1st Battalion 107th Field Artillery out of Hermitage, but he is training with the 111th Infantry of the 56th Stryker Brigade in Camp Shelby, Miss.

He will remain there until about Nov. 10 and then head to Fort Polk, La., for two more weeks of training before heading to Fort Dix, N.J., where he and his unit will prepare for deployment.

His orders are for 385 days.

“It’s difficult to see him leave, especially under those circumstances,” Wilmington coach Terry Verrelli said. “He is strong with his faith and has a love for his country. He’s a great person and we’ve loved having him around.”

BIGGER, STRONGER, FASTER

Crawford, who is also a corrections officer at the State Regional Correctional Facility in Mercer, approached Verrelli five years ago and inquired about helping the program.

“He came to me and explained his philosophy of lifting and having a weight program,” Verrelli said. “He set up a program and did it all for nothing. He knows what he’s doing and the kids love him.”

Crawford’s main philosophy is to get Wilmington’s players bigger, stronger and faster.

“We’ve seen good results with the program,” said Crawford, who also recently opened the Body Shoppe Fitness Center in New Wilmington. “We want to get the players more explosive and faster so they can help the whole team.

“(Senior lineman) Clint DeRosa is now bench pressing 430 pounds, and we have (junior running back) Chad Palladino, who is about 170 pounds, power cleaning 295 pounds. My philosophy of explosive training is to help generate power in small places. It’s a hard program that the players enjoy. For the kids who don’t play basketball, baseball or run track, they’ll train with me year-round.”

Verrelli and his undefeated Greyhounds are 4-0 in the region and 6-0 overall. They have presented results of Crawford’s program week-in and week-out this season.

“He’s turned out to be a major factor with this team,” Verrelli said. “He knows exactly what he wants to do and the kids believe and love going to the weight room. We’ve seen tremendous progress.

“Mike’s a guy who’s excited about football and he’s a great addition to the staff. He brings a lot of enthusiasm and excitement to the program.”

SAYING FAREWELL

Crawford joined the football team for its weekly Thursday night dinner at DeRosa’s house last week.

“It was a special event,” Verrelli said. “The team presented him with a ball and the boosters got him a picture frame (for digital photos). Some of the guys said some words and he spoke.

“He was pretty taken aback about what everyone did that night. Those things were really special to him.”

Each player signed and wrote messages on a football, which was presented to Crawford.

“He was pretty excited about it,” Corri Crawford said. “Next to his kids, he loves this football team. He’s gotten pretty close to a lot of these guys.”

The next night, as soon as the ’Hounds beat Sharon, Crawford was again presented with a football from the coaching staff and entire team.

“I’ve gotten pretty close with these kids and the staff. It’s like a family,” Crawford said. “They’re a good bunch of kids. I’ve already gotten a few text messages from them while I’m here.

“I get a little choked up about it. Wilmington is a tight-knit community and everyone knows everyone. It’s a great place and I’m certainly going to miss everyone.”