Manassas Park names its new head football coach

By Dave Fawcett

Published: February 29, 2008

Mike Peters had no problems if Manassas Park High School's top choice declined to become the school's next head football coach and the Cougars had to go with their No. 2 choice. But Peters is glad it never came to that.

David Coccoli, an assistant coach/defensive coordinator at Group AAA Warwick High School in Newport News, was the person Manassas Park wanted and he's the person Manassas Park got.

"He's got high standards," said Peters, Manassas Park's activities director. "And he knows his football. He's very energetic. He's the best fit for our program."

Coccoli, who was introduced to the team Thursday, replaces Jeff Lloyd, who stepped down in December after being named the new head football coach at Kettle Run High School in Fauquier County. Kettle Run opens next fall. Coccoli was one of four individuals interviewed for a job that received over 50 applications. One of those interviewed was from North Carolina, while the other three were from Virginia. Only one of the final four candidates had been a head coach before.

Coccoli takes over a program that enjoyed a successful run under Lloyd, who was the head coach at Manassas Park for 10 years. The Cougars won the Division 2 Group A state title in 2004 and were the runner-up in 2005.

Coccoli played alongside Michael Vick at Warwick and then coached Marcus Vick there as well. Coccoli was also a member of Christopher Newport's first-ever football team before graduating from that school in 2003.

Coccoli has been an assistant at Warwick since 2003 and has been the defensive coordinator since 2005.

Peters said the decision to hire Coccoli was helped by the fact that the school would have an immediate opening for a history teacher since that is what Lloyd currently teaches at Manassas Park.