Sometimes you can go home again.

By: Tiff Steele

The Avon Grove Wildcats Spring Skills Clinic received a surprising visit from some very special friends on Sunday.

Avon Grove High School Red Devils head football coach Joe Coffey made a welcomed and triumphant return to his old proverbial stomping grounds, to show support for his old team, his community, and to possibly begin scouting the future.

Coach Coffey, with the assistance of some of his assistants, is looking forward to developing an ongoing relationship with the Avon Grove Wildcats and the rest of the community and build it into an organization that will bolster and support future Red Devils for years to come.

“Speaking with younger generations of Wildcats begins the development of positive relationships, it is a meaningful and essential way to build continuity between the Avon Grove Wildcats and Avon Grove High School football programs,” said Coffey.

When asked what he was most looking forward to regarding the current state of both the Avon Grove Wildcats and the Avon Grove High School team, Coffey reiterated his desire to use football as the instrument designed to bring the community, as a whole, closer together.

“Football programs should serve as one of the main focal points for community engagement and support,” said Coffey.

He went on to describe the use of football in both programs, and the increased participation in both, as a way to attract more athletes in the community at large and to increase competition year-by-year.

Coach Coffey was not the only alumni to return to the storied fields of Harmony Park.  Several soon-to-be 10th graders, Victor Heness, Evan Olander, Jose Sabastro and Sam Kumpon also returned to their old stomping grounds and took time out of their Sunday to offer some sage advise to their younger counterparts.

AGW veteran, Sam Kumpon, currently plays at Malvern Prep and was glad to return to the field, as his family is still widely involved in the program.  His younger brother is entering his final year of eligibility and while his father, Chris, recently retired from his executive board role, he still coaches the Spring Skills Clinic and leads the annual Coaches Clinic each May.

“It was great for former alumni to come back,” said Kumpon.  “The several alumni that came back on Sunday were part of the historic 2021 season that advanced to the IYFL regional finals and were one game away from the AYF nationals in Florida.”

Kumpon went on to state that the returning players not only relay their own personal perspective and experiences with the younger set, but also helped coach them up.  This, he said, leads to more opportunities to travel and play teams from other regions and states, with an increased likelihood that many will parlay this experience to a spot on a high school varsity team.

This upcoming season, Kumpon’s 12th, will now show the Wildcats as one of the premier clubs in the IYFL and in southeastern PA.  During his tenure, Kumpon remarks candidly at the transformation the club has undergone while being proud and confident that the momentum will continue in the right direction.

Avon Grove Football is all about community, culture, and family.  From newcomers to seasoned veterans, all are welcome and all are encouraged to enrich their overall experience by getting involved, because when everyone is involved, everyone wins.

“Winning is an outcome of many things the Wildcats culture teaches our children including team-building, teamwork, working hard, and having fun,” said Kumpon.  ”Hope to see everyone back out this fall!”