Courtesy - Shaw University
Shaw University yesterday introduced Robert Massey as the Bears’ new head football coach. The five-year assistant and two-year defensive coordinator with the Bears received the promotion after former head coach Darrell Asberry recently accepted the head coaching position at Texas Southern.
“It’s a good feeling, something I’ve always wanted to do,” said Massey in a telephone interview with the Digest. “You’re no longer interim, you have the support of the faculty, staff and administration. You get a chance to put things together the way you see fit. I’ve got a little more power now, and it helps in terms of putting together a program that the school can be proud of.”
Massey says that strength and conditioning were a prominent factor in last year’s 3-7 finish, a far departure from their conference championship form in 2010. A return to weight room work ethic, along with an experienced slate of returning players on offense and defense will prove great for the Bears’ 2012 prospects.
He also says that recruiting regionally will become a primary focus of his staff.
“We’re going to have to recruit and win back the city of Raleigh, and win the state of North Carolina. It is difficult because there are so many football programs. But we’re going to continue seek talent out nationally, with a focus on getting the players from our own back yard. We won’t have other teams competing for CIAA championships with talented players from Raleigh and Durham taking them there.
Massey will continue calling the defense for the Bears, and hopes to hire an offensive coordinator before February.
“I’ve been involved for the last five years, so we’re going to continue to do what we’ve done in the past. We didn’t grind last year in terms of the weight room, so we’ll get back to doing that. We also want to make sure we continue to grow and develop in being fundamentally sound. It’s time for those returning upperclassmen to have a big role in shaping what our program will look like this season, and I’m confident they’ll do that the right way. We’ll continue to run a spread offense and do what we’ve always done defensively.”
“We’re just as talented as anyone returning this upcoming year. If we do the things we’re supposed to do before the season starts, I feel good about the program, I feel good about the young men we have coming back, and we’ll get back to championship football.”
