THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 25, 1995 TAG: 9508240195
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, CLIPPER STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
AT ATLANTIC SHORES Christian School, there's only one thing that's constant - change.
In each of the past three years, the Seahawks football team has had a different coach at the helm. While the turnover has proven that Atlantic Shores is nothing if not resilient, shuttling new faces in and out of the head coaching position has prevented the fledgling Seahawks program from truly taking root.
Adam Cheyunski intends to change that.
With a formidable combination of youth, know-how and a pro football pedigree, the smart money is on Cheyunski to succeed.
``My goal this year is to start building a program. You can't build a team,'' Cheyunski said. ``We're trying to create a football dynasty along with football tradition.''
While Cheyunski, 24, might not have the benefit of years of coaching experience, he's been around the game since he was a child.
Cheyunski's father, Jim, was a linebacker in the National Football League from 1968 to 1977 with the New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Colts. Although his father was at the end of his career by the time his son was old enough to appreciate it, Cheyunski absorbed enough to follow in his father's footsteps and played linebacker at Sarasota High School in Florida and Liberty University.
After serving as assistant head coach with his father at Providence Day School in Charlotte, Cheyunski returned to Liberty as the team's assistant strength coach. He heard about the Seahawks' coaching vacancy through his father, who became friends with Atlantic Shore's headmaster, Don Barfield, when Barfield was principal at Cheyunski's elementary school.
As soon as Cheyunski heard that the Seahawks were in the market for a new head coach, he was on the phone renewing acquaintances with Barfield.
``I really wasn't looking to find a head coaching job that early. Maybe in the back of my mind,'' Cheyunski said. Atlantic Shores appealed because he was ``interested in getting into a school that had the ability to grow - a ground-floor opportunity.''
``He is a young guy,'' admitted Atlantic Shores athletic director Mark Phelps, who interviewed several candidates for the position. ``But he's really, really sharp.''
The Seahawks needed a new coach when Mickey Toll left to take an athletic director position at Maryland's Riverdale Baptist School, Atlantic Shores' first opponent at home. Once Cheyunski had won over the administration, he had to get to know the most important people at Atlantic Shores - his players.
``They've been real accepting. It's hard for a team to have a new coach every year, and it took a little while for them to catch on to my attitude,'' said Cheyunski. ``But after the first week or so they realized that I was serious about wanting things to be first class. Everything we do will be one step at a time, but it will be first class.''
``We knew he was going to change everything when he came in. He's a new coach and everyone has a different program,'' said senior tackle Stephen Hopkins, a co-captain on the team, of Cheyun-ski's arrival. ``But he's a pretty nice guy, real easy going as long as you do what you're supposed to.''
Although Cheyunski brings a sense of excitement to the program, he's got a tough act to follow. The Seahawks surprised quite a few people last year by winning six of their last seven games en route to a 7-3 record. The team bowed out of the state private school playoffs in the first round, losing to Roanoke Catholic.
Atlantic Shores kicks off the 1995 season today on the road at Isle of Wight. The Seahawks play at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, Norfolk Academy and Catholic before opening their three-game home schedule Saturday, Sept. 30, against Riverdale Baptist.
Atlantic Shores' other two home games are against Lynchburg Christian Oct. 7 and the season finale against Blue Ridge Nov. 3. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by Steve Earley
Adam Cheyunski, 24, takes over as head coach of Atlantic Shores,
which has had a different coach at the helm each of the past three
years.
by CNB