DERBY

Coach: George French (3rd year, 9-11)
League: NVL
Last season: 4-6
Top offensive players: Dillon McMahon, 5-8, 150, Sr., WR; Tyrae Small, 5-10, 205, Jr., RB
Top defensive players: Matt Nicolari, 5-10, 195, Sr., LB; Duane Jones, 5-10, 215, Sr., DL
Key losses: Ray Kreiger, QB; Brian Dobek, WR/DB; Tim Adanti, TE; Luis Casco, OL/LB.
Inside the huddle: Six returning letter winners, including three starters on offensive/defensive lines. Experience on the line should be invaluable, especially on defense. McMahon caught 50 passes for 1,089 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior.
Fast fact: Kreiger was a four-year starter at quarterback. His brother, Michael, a sophomore, is expected to start at the position this season.

OUTLOOK

In 2010, Derby played as part of a co-op with O'Brien Tech. Last season, most of the team's more experienced and talented linemen attended O'Brien Tech and played for the Condors as that school fielded a varsity football team for the first time.

French, though, is confident that Derby's line should be improved with the return of several starters who gained valuable experience playing on the varsity level last season.

"The offensive line, they have a year in, and we have most of those kids coming back," French said. "This is probably the first year (since French has been coach) that we have some experience coming back on the line."

French added: "I expect much improvement from a 4-6 season last year."

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT

Last season, despite Derby scoring an average of 33 points per game, the defense surrendered 32.

"Defensively, we were hurt big time last year," French said. "In the off-season, these kids have really worked their butts off to get bigger, stronger, faster. We're really taking a hard look at our defense, really work hard on our fundamentals and going back to basics. We have not set our sights low when it comes to defense this year."

UNDER CENTER

With the graduation of Ray Kreiger, there will likely be a quarterback competition as summer camp progresses.

"It's the first day of camp so we're taking a hard look at it," French said. "Michael's had a great off-season. He's been throwing the ball very well."

McMahon can also play the position, as well as sophomore Ben Slowik and junior Sal Frosceno.

BIG AND SMALL

Another area Derby hopes to improve upon this season is its running game. Small will likely be the team's featured running back.

"Tyrae had an excellent off-season," French said. "He's put on about 20 pounds of muscle, he grew another inch or two. He's really learning how to run. A lot of people don't understand how young he is. He's a junior, but he's only played football since his freshman year. He's still learning the game. Each year of him carrying the football he's gotten better and better. He looks very good so far."

Said Small: "I'm expecting a great season. I think I'm going to be able to run the ball well with my line blocking. We have to be more balanced so teams don't think we're just a passing team."

George French was unanimously approved by the nine-member Derby Board of Education to be the next football coach at Derby/O’Brien Tech.

French, who served as the Red Raiders’ defensive coordinator this past season, replaces Carmen DiCenso, who retired at the end of the 2009 season after compiling a 4-6 in the co-op's first year in the Naugatuck Valley League.

The seven-member selection committee, which included Derby athletic director Joe Orazietti and BOE member Andrew Mancini, nominated French, who played football and baseball for the Red Raiders, to be the school’s next coach.

“It was a committee decision,” Orazietti said. “We felt he was the best candidate, the best fit for Derby. He’s an outstanding young man. He came up through the system. I think he’s going to be a good fit.”

Board of Education member Kim Krieger, whose son Ray, a sophomore, is the co-op’s starting quarterback, applauded the committee for its thorough selection process.

“The process was comprehensive,” Krieger said. “The committee did a tremendous job in pulling out a highly qualified candidate. We wish Mr. French tremendous success, and lots of luck here. We think he’s going to do a fine job for this program.”

DiCenso, who coached for six seasons starting in 2004, said he suggested French to Orazietti when DiCenso announced his retirement. However, DiCenso was not apart of the selection committee.

“As I told Joe I was retiring,” DiCenso said, “he wanted to know if I wanted to name anyone to take over and I told him George. He’s very knowledgeable, and very dedicated, and I think he deserves a chance to be the head coach.”