Noetic excellence has been the motto of this year’s football team. Meaning an expectation of excellence in how they respond to situations, not just on the field, but in the classroom as well. This new ideological focus has been brought about by head coach Noel Dean. Previously at Lowell High School, coach Dean led the team to three state championships and eight regional titles. Now, he comes to Chelsea with high expectations.

“I think he’s a phenomenal coach, and he pushes us really hard, and he wants the best out of us. He doesn’t settle for anything less than that, anything less than the best,” Richard Montoye (25’) said.

Coach Dean expects a lot from his players on and off the field; in line with that intensity, the training has become more rigorous than in previous years.

“I think [the team has] definitely been practicing a lot more throughout the summer and a lot longer doing practices than we used to,” Montoye said. “Every weekday, all summer, in the morning, we go until 11 am lifting weights and then practicing out in the field. Just being able to get better and have that much work to do, it was good for all of us.”

While the team has clearly been working hard in the physical aspect of the sport, under coach Dean a new event began in which speakers were invited to talk to the team about a variety of things relating not just to sports, but broader life advice and experiences as well.

“[This event is] a diverse panel of leaders [discussing] a wide range of topics, [and] offering valuable insights and inspiration,” Chelsea Football’s Instagram Page said.

This year, three speakers were invited to talk: Terry Hessbrook, former Ithaca head coach and B4 Foundation creator, Samantha Mullet, Michigan’s first female head high school football coach, and Chris Merendino, a former Navy Seal. The speakers covered topics such as mental health, taking advantage of opportunities, and perseverance; reinforcing that excellence is not just about winning games but also about personal development and integrity. The intensity of this new mental and physical training not only aims for success on the field but also brings the team closer together.

“The brotherhood with everyone on the team, and just being with them every day for so long, and building those bonds and those memories, it’s just something you never really forget,” Montoye said.