SHEFFIELD -- It's a banner year for new coaches in the Allegheny Mountain League. Half of the league will have a new coach on the sideline.

At Sheffield, Scott Park takes over for John Bonavita. While Park is starting his first year as a head coach, he's not unfamiliar with the Sheffield program. He's been with the program since 1997.

After starting 4-1 last year, the Wolverines finished 5-4, their best record in 13 years. Park wants to continue that improvement and solidify the program's reputation.

"Right now, our slogan is 'We believe,'" Park said. "I'm trying to change the whole attitude of the football program."

Sheffield is in a co-operative program with Abraxas, a reform school located outside of Marienville. On the 46-man roster, 26 players are from Sheffield and 20 come from Abraxas.

The mix is a challenging situation for the coaching staff, which must work hard at integrating players from both schools into one cohesive unit. Park, who was hired as a physical education/health teacher at Sheffield last fall. Previously, Park worked at Abraxas for eight years.

"It's a great plus," Park said of his experience at Abraxas. "That was a big part of why I was considered for the (Sheffield) job. I know the Abraxas philosophy, how they work."

While the contribution from the Abraxas players is somewhat unknown at the beginning of each year, Park said that his Sheffield group is promising.

"It's the most talented group of players from Sheffield in awhile," said Park. Of the 26 players from Sheffield, only two are seniors, 14 are juniors and 10 are sophomores.

Both seniors are among the team's best players, third-year starting quarterback Nik Obenrader and guard-linebacker Jared Snell. Other key players are junior split end-cornerback Robin Copley and junior fullback-linebacker Brendan Lobdell.

Sheffield opens the season at home Saturday against Brockway.

Park joins other first-year coaches Drew Seaman of Eisenhower, Kerry Snow of Otto-Eldred, Brian Lovett of Cameron County, Richard Bouch of Kane and Joe Renwick of Elk County Catholic. Kevin Carter returns to Johnsonburg for another stint as head coach.