GREENVILLE, Pa. - A new-look Thiel offense will be on display when the Tomcats begin their 2010 football campaign under second-year head coach Kurt Reiser.

The Tomcats will make the switch to the spread offense, a move Reiser says has been in progress over the last couple of years. With the school already showing its commitment to improving the athletic programs with the construction of an indoor practice facility, a smooth transition to an offense with high-scoring potential could make for an exciting year at Thiel.

New offensive coordinator Brad Paulson will play a key role as the Tomcats get acclimated to their new style. Paulson has eight years of experience as an offensive coordinator at three different schools.

“We were looking for somebody with experience in the spread,” Reiser said. “He's worked with the spread and has been successful with it. He'll do a great job implementing and preparing us to go forward.”

The change in offense may give the skill athletes a chance to flourish, meaning players such as Tyler Dejong and Ross Gargano (Sharon, Pa./Kennedy Catholic) could improve on the quality seasons they turned in last year.

Dejong caught 46 passes for 524 yards as the second receiving option behind record-setting wideout Brendan Taylor (Girard, Pa./Girard). With Taylor gone to graduation, Dejong will step in as the main receiving threat in his sophomore season, combining with K.J. Smith to give the 'Cats a pair of returning letterwinners in the receiving corps. Zane Garza (Conneaut, Ohio/Conneaut), Joe Hewel (Wattsburg, Pa./Seneca), who moves to wideout from corner, and Devin Wasylink (Leechburg, Pa./Leechburg) are also competing for receiver spots.

“We have guys coming back who had a chance to learn the offense this spring and get acclimated to some of the terminology,” Reiser said. “combine this with what we've done in recruiting with approximately 80 incoming freshman and some very good skill players, it's going to be a lot easier.”

Gargano could be a focal point in the offense after proving to be a multi-threat athlete last year. As a sophomore, the tailback led the team with six rushing touchdowns and added two scores on catches. His 34 receptions ranked third on the team, as did his 184 yards on the ground.

“Ross is our most versatile offensive player. He can play the slot or we can line him up at running back. He'll probably get more carries than a year ago since Danny Hess has graduated,” Reiser said.

Justin Wazelle (Burghill, Ohio/John F. Kennedy), a sophomore tailback, will also see carries while Rob Tibbit will be on the field primarily as a blocking back.

It is still unclear who will line up under center for Thiel this season. Reiser says three players are battling for the spot, including senior Matt Endlish (Chicora, Pa./Karns City), junior Ken Rasinski and Jared Soell (Oakmont, Pa./Riverview).

Each of the three potential starting quarterbacks is coming off a different situation. Endlish was the backup to starter Willie Bova (Port Allegany, Pa./Port Allegany) last year, Rasinski is returning from a knee injury and Soell is a transfer from Slippery Rock University.

“This will be the first time in several years going into camp that the quarterback position is up in the air,” Reiser said. “All three did a nice job in the spring. It will be important for us to get a feel in camp for where they are and who our starting quarterback is going to be.”

In addition to the change in offensive style, Reiser's coaching responsibilities will differ from last year. The hiring of an offensive coordinator relieves Reiser of those duties, allowing him to return to overseeing the offensive line.

The change gives the Tomcat head coach more opportunity to manage the game as a whole rather than spending all his time focused on just the offensive side of the ball and calling plays.

“My job as the head coach will be to try to make sure we have team success so that what we are doing offensively and defensively mesh. If we need to help the defense out by running more, then that's what we'll do. That will be part of my job, to balance offense and defense and oversee the entire game better than I have in the past,” Reiser said.

The offensive line that Reiser will take charge of loses its most accomplished player in J.R. Kenna, a first team All-PAC selection last year, to graduation, but has three returning starters in Gary Petrucci (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks), Vinnie Palmiere and David Mossa (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport). All three started each of the 'Cats 10 games last season.

“They'll have to help us control the line of scrimmage in the running and passing game. We have to do a much better job running the football,” Reiser said. “Even though we're going to the spread, we still want to be able to run the football and be a physical team up front.”

The Tomcats struggled to establish the running game last season, finishing under 50 yards in a game six times, but showed signs they were capable of being successful carrying the ball, including a 172-yard ground attack in a win over Albion.

On the other side of the ball, Thiel's defense will be led by a pair of returning starters that earned All-PAC honors last season in Will Haase, a second team All-PAC selection, and Bryan Villegas (Spring Hill, Fla./Springstead), an honorable mention on the All-PAC squad.

It will be the final year at Thiel for Haase, who will anchor the defensive line. His all-conference selection was the second of his career and another solid season could net him his first appearance on the first team. He will be joined on the line by returning starter Tim Taylor (Girard, Pa./Erie Cathedral Prep), who registered 44 tackles and tied with Haase for a team-high three sacks. Jason Joens (Spring Hill, Fla./Nature Coast), Tom Cermak (Erie, Pa./Seneca), Matthew Shields and Zach Woody (New Palestine, Ind./Corbin) are battling for the final two starting spots on the line and will all see playing time.

Reiser will look to Villegas to be the senior leader in the secondary from his free safety position, with returning starters John Madeline (Hubbard, Ohio/Hubbard) and Cody Sirgey (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northside Christian) as the frontrunners to start at the corners. David Urey (Masury, Ohio/Hubbard), Marshaun Hainesworth (Warren, Ohio/Warren JFK) and Hunter Liptrap (Bay Village, Ohio/Bay) are also competing for a starting spot.

“Haase has shown he can be a dominant player in this league and Villegas has a leadership role in the secondary,” Reiser said. “Those are the guys we will be leaning on in the defensive huddle to push the young guys around them to compete on every snap.”

Bobby Shew (Mogadore, Ohio/Mogadore), who the Thiel coach calls an intelligent player with good instincts, is a returning starter at linebacker, as is Ryan Dawes (Transfer, Pa./Reynolds). The third linebacker spot, as well as those providing depth, have yet to be decided.

The kicking game shouldn't be a problem for the Tomcats as they return an All-PAC punter and All-PAC kicker. Anthony Rozzi was selected to the second team as a punter while Madeline was listed as an honorable mention kicker.

Thiel will open its season vs. Marietta at Alumni Stadium on Sept. 4. The only difference in the schedule from last year is that instead of Albion, the Tomcats will travel to play a non-conference game against Widener for their second game of the season. This game is part of the PAC-MAC Challenge orchestrated by conference commissioner Joe Onderko. Each team from the PAC, with the exception of Thomas More, will play a team from the MAC to determine bragging rights between the 2 conferences.

The Tomcats begin their PAC schedule with their Homecoming game against Waynesburg in the season's third week and follow that game with conference matchups against Saint Vincent, Thomas More, Bethany, Westminster, Geneva and Washington & Jefferson before wrapping up the season with a battle against Grove City for the Mercer County Cup.

“I think with our conference, everybody week in and week out is competitive so we have to work hard every week,” Reiser said. “I expect Washington & Jefferson and Thomas More to be the teams to beat again because of what they've done in the past. Our job is to get our kids to play and compete at that level.”

Thiel finished 3-6 last year, a one-game improvement over its 2008 record. If not for a couple of close losses, a .500 season or better could have been in reach. The Tomcats fell to Marietta 20-14 in the season opener and closed out the season with a 21-14 loss in double overtime to rival Grove City.

“I think when we look back to 2009 we realize we had some missed opportunities,” Reiser said. There were games that if we had made a play here or play there we could have won. Overall our goal is to improve over last year. If everybody in our program improves and competes on a daily basis, wins and losses will take care of themselves.”