I spoke recently with Coach Ressa to ask a few questions about coaching, childhood heroes, the success of last season, predictions for the upcoming season and much more. 

g3: Where were you born? 
PR: New Jersey

g3: When were you introduced to football and what were your first impressions?
PR: I started playing Football in 2nd grade.  Living in New Jersey it was very easy to grow up a Philadelphia Eagles fan, so I was born into football.

g3: Did you play any sport[s] other than football growing up? 
PR: I played baseball and I boxed.

g3: Was there an athlete you admired while growing up?
PR: Michael Schmidt, Ronnie Lott, Marvelous Marvin Hagler

g3: What professional football team is your favorite? 
PR: Philadelphia Eagles

g3: What are your interests outside of football? 
PR: Family and Friends.  Just hanging out and enjoying everyone.

g3: Your passion, fire and love for the game makes it seem like you were born to be a head coach. What or who was the major influence on you getting into coaching? 
PR: My dad was a huge part of this.  He coached me until I went to DeWitt Perry.  I also had a lot of good coaches along the way – John Mathews, Vince Cowdrey, Bubba Fife and Coach Keith to name a few.

g3: As a coach, what do you bring to your team? 
PR: I would like to think I bring passion and love for the game.  I have surrounded myself with tremendous people that care about the kids and are fantastic teachers of the game.
 
g3: What is the best part of your job as a head coach? 
PR: Watching a bunch of individuals come in every year and leave as a close-knit team.

g3: What can the fans expect to see from the Trojans this season? 
PR: A very good football team.  Yes, we did have an excellent senior class last year, but I believe we are even more talented and have better depth than last year.
 
g3: The district has realigned again and the Trojans are now in 9-4A this season.  Who are your district opponents? 
PR: We will be playing RL Turner, Creekview and all the Frisco Schools – Frisco, Heritage, Centennial, Liberty and Wakeland.

g3: What are you looking forward to this season? 
PR: I really believe we can do something that has never been done before here at NSHS – back-to-back playoff appearances!

g3: How do you stay motivated after a season with so much success?
PR: Simply to keep it going and the fear of failure.  I have not spent too much time patting myself on the back.  We are still trying to remove the past 26 years.  The last thing that we want to do is to be a one hit wonder.

g3: What are your expectations for the new season? 
PR: To be very competitive in every game and make the playoffs.

g3: Do you think this team can improve from last season? If so, how? 
PR: We will be more athletic, hungry and deeper than last year.

g3: What players did you lose from your playoff team from last year? 
PR: We graduated 28 seniors.  QB Aldo Qiroga, RB Randall Joyner, WR Al Lasker, Slot Terrell Wilson, Center Austin Shipley and OG Danny Morales to name a few.

g3: What players are you looking at to take the next step this season? 
PR: RB Braxton Bearden, RB DJ Jones, LB Zach Smith, LB Allen Melson, SS Jaqueal Walker, FS Jaylen Jenkins, Center Michael Quiroga.

g3: Any final comments to the Trojans fans out there that are highly anticipating the 2010 season? 
PR: I hope last years success has not worn out just yet!!  It was simply amazing to look up into the stands and see a bunch of familiar faces.  It was fun to receive phone calls for tickets and sideline passes from my old friends.  Let's pack the house every week and show the state of Texas that football is alive and well at Newman Smith!!!