Former Patriots Pro Bowler Koppen Joining Football Staff at Hendricken
Jack Andrade, GoLocalProv Sports Reporter
Former Patriots Pro Bowler Koppen Joining Football Staff at Hendricken
Bishop Hendricken and Head Coach Keith Croft have won 4 RIIL Division 1 Super Bowl’s in a row, and the program made a big splash this week with the announcement of their newest coaching staff member, former New England Patriots’ Pro Bowl Center Dan Koppen.
Koppen was introduced to the media and to returning players Wednesday as the Hawks held a spring meeting to lay the foundation for the summer offseason program.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTKoppen played 11 seasons in the NFL after being selected in the 5th round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Patriots, winning Super Bowl rings in each of his first two seasons in New England. A graduate of Boston College (where he played with former Hendricken star and NFL player Will Blackmon), Koppen is the son-in-law of former Cranston West great Mark van Eeghen.
Koppen retired from the NFL after being sidelined last season with a torn ACL.
“I’m making a transition in my career,” Koppen said. “For me to give back to the sport that’s given me so much… I’ve always thought about being a high school coach and I think this is a good start.”
Koppen and his family are building a house in East Greenwich and currently live in the Lincoln/Smithfield area. He drew a laugh from media members at Hendricken Wednesday when he clarified his future.
“Once you get into Rhode Island, you don’t get out,” he said. “We’re here for the long haul.”
Koppen reached out to Croft and asked to join the Hawks’ staff as a volunteer staff member. Croft said Wednesday that Koppen (who played Center in the NFL) will help with both the offensive and defensive lines.
“I think I bring a lot of experience on the field and in the meeting rooms,” Koppen said. “Coaching is new to me, so I have a lot to learn.”
Croft was noticeably excited about the addition to the staff.
“I think just having him around…to have his experience and his expertise and maybe show us some drills that we’ve never seen before,” he said.
Koppen said he’s accepted retirement and there’s no chance an NFL team will be able to pry him back into the game.
“Those days are done,” Koppen said. “I’m ready to move on and I think my family is ready for me to move on. It was a great 11 years, I have no regrets and no complaints about how it went it’s just, there’s a time to walk away and this was it.”
Adding an NFL Pro Bowler to the coaching staff is obviously a huge move for Hendricken, but Croft believes Koppen will also help highlight and bring attention to the entire state’s football community.
“It’s not only good for us, it’s good for everyone in Rhode Island high school football,” said Croft.
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Slideshow: RI High School Football State Champions
Division 4: N. Providence
Regular Season: 7-0 (Division 4), 7-3 Overall
North Providence was dominant in Division 4 this season. Led by star Running Back Bevin Ingram, NP went undefeated in divisional play, scoring 317 points and allowing just 52. The Cougars were the regular season champs and the #1 seed in the Division 4 playoffs.
Postseason:
North Providence defeated #4 seed Scituate 40-22 in the Division 4 semifinals. The score was 40-0 after 3 quarters, and Ingram ran for 4 touchdowns for the Cougars in the win.
In the Division 4 Super Bowl, NP defeated #2 seed Exeter/West Greenwich 46-12. The win completed what was a season to remember for North Providence. From start to finish, the Cougars were the class of Division 4.
Division 3: Mt. Pleasant
Regular Season: 9-0 (Division 3), 10-1 Overall
No team was as good in league play this season as Mt. Pleasant was in Division 3. Led by the Zleh brothers (Randolph, Guei, and Albert) the Kilties went 9-0 in Division 3 and earned the #1 seed in the Division 3 playoffs.
Postseason:
The top seeded Kilties scored an impressive 22-0 victory over Narragansett in the Division 3 semifinals. Mt. Pleasant then completed their perfect season with a 28-13 victory over #2 seed Moses Brown in the Division 3 Super Bowl. Randolph Zleh ran for 3 touchdowns in the Super Bowl, his final game in a Kilties' uniform.
Division 2: West Warwick
Regular Season: 5-2 (Division 2-B), 8-3 Overall
West Warwick was one of 5 teams to finish 5-2 in Division 2-B this season. The Wizards were the best defensive team in the division, allowing just 84 points in 7 games (12 per game). They "won" the 5 way tiebreaker and were the #1 seed out of Division 2-B in the Division 2 playoffs.
Postseason:
The Wizards beat Division 2-A #4 seed Mt. Hope 42-0 in the Division 2 quarterfinals and Division 2-B #3 seed Rogers 34-13 in the Division 2 semifinals. In the Division 2 Super Bowl, West Warwick continued to blow out the competition with a 48-13 win over Division 2-B #2 seed Cumberland. The win cemented the dream season for the Wizards, a team that closed the season with 9 consecutive victories.
Division 1: Hendricken
Regular Season: 7-1 (Division 1), 10-1 Overall
Hendricken's +162 scoring differential was the best in Division 1 during the regular season, and the 7-1 Hawks' lone blemish came in a 7-6 loss against Barrington. Led by star Running Back Remington Blue, Hendricken beat everyone in Division 1 except the Eagles, and in many cases they beat them handily. They earned the #2 seed in the Division 1 playoffs.
Postseason:
Hendricken scored a 36-15 win over #4 seed Portsmouth in the Division 1 semifinals. The Hawks then took on a red-hot Cranston East team in the Division 1 Super Bowl, a team that had blown out #1 seed Barrington a week earlier. Led by Blue's 4 rushing TDs, the Hawks beat the Thunderbolts 45-34 on Sunday and won their 4th conscutive state championship in football.
