sparta - Mark Young always wanted to be a coach. After graduating college, he coached at Morris Catholic for two years before doing a stint as a freshman and JV coach with the Pope John girls. Then life came calling, and Young took a break. “I got out of coaching for a while to start my own business,” Young said. “I am probably the only guy who ever started a business so that he could someday figure out how it could let him coach. The road I took is a little different, but I have always enjoyed coaching and it is something I always wanted to do.” After establishing himself in business, Young found his way back to the sidelines. “I got back into it nine years ago,” the coach said. But being in the big chair is an adjustment for the first time head coach. “I think when you are the varsity coach it is different because there is more to do. Obviously with the scouting and game preparation there just is a lot more to it,” Young said. “I am lucky that I have four great assistants who take a lot of the load off of me.” When it comes to this season’s Lions, Young is thrilled with the skill and discipline he sees in his current squad. “I’m lucky to be taking over a Tom Fox coached team,” the skipper said. “They are fundamentally sound so I am very fortunate to have that.” That is not to say that Pope John doesn’t have preseason concerns. “As far as this particular team goes, we are very young. I only have one senior on the team and he is hurt right now. So we have no seniors on the roster or playing right now,” Young said. ” When dealing with a young squad, finding the right leader is crucial to a successful season. Young is still looking for his captains. With the winter season about to begin, Pope John has the same goals as in years past. “Our season goals are always the same. We want to win the league, we want to win the county tournament and we want to do well in the states. We want to win state games,” Young said. “Our goals never really change.”