Mark Morelli

Former Ridgway, Warren and Cameron County head football coach Mark Morelli was recently named the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for the Viera, (Florida) High School Hawks.

Morelli, who begins his 46th year coaching football, has also been an assistant coach at St. Marys, Smethport and Bayside, Florida. The longtime, veteran coach had a career record of 101-95 during his career coaching in the District 9 and District 10 area of Pennsylvania.

Viera is a 5A school with a student enrollment of more than 2,300. The Hawks are known for their high academic achievements in the classroom as well as their all-around successful sports programs. The Hawks, under head coach Tony Gulla, finished last season with a 7-5 record, losing in the FHSSA state quarterfinal playoff game.

“Coaching football in Florida is a bit different than Pennsylvania and I do not mean that in a negative way, I get asked this question a lot,” Morelli said. “It is more intense and ultra competitive in Florida with a year-round time commitment, so it tends to be a different mindset, a different culture. The talent is off the charts. The speed, the athletic ability and the overall desire to excel is evident everywhere at every school. The weather, the facilities and having the numbers make a big difference as well. But on the field, it is still football and everything is relative no matter what area you live in.”

The 90 to 100 kids on the 2026 Viera team started their offseason workouts in December with weightlifting and speed work. They are also on the field two days a week doing football-related drills. The Hawks have four 7-on-7 tournaments planned through April before starting spring practice on April 15th. Viera will play a spring game May 22, then in July they will head to Webber International University for a three-day camp. The highlight of the 2026 Viera season schedule is a trip to Boston to play Catholic Memorial in September.

“Relocating to Florida has really rejuvenated my passion for coaching football,” Morelli said. “Even after 46 years, I am still learning something new each week. Coach Gulla is from Massachusetts and we have three other coaches on the staff from the Pennsylvania/New York area so there is a philosophical commonality amongst us. I have been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to be part of successful football programs in my past. By bringing that experience to Florida, it has enabled me to have a positive influence and a smooth transition with the staff and players.”

Morelli has no plans on slowing down.

“The D9-D10 area of Pennsylvania will always be my home,” he said. “I still have many fond memories from my head coaching days at Ridgway, Cameron County and Warren. I tell my Pennsylvania friends, being retired, living in sunny, warm Florida and coaching football, what more can an old guy ask for? I feel like I went to heaven early!”

Morelli and his wife Mary Anne live in Palm Bay, Florida with their two dogs, Cooper and Ozzy.