Mark Mariakis Hopes to Bring Physicality to CCS This Fall

Chattanooga, TN (WDEF) – Former Ridgeland head coach Mark Mariakis finds himself back in a head coaching role this fall as he takes over at Chattanooga Christian.
Mariakis has installed a Wing ‘T’ offense and a physical mindset, which he hopes will allow the Chargers to continue their recent success.

After spending one year as the defensive coordinator for CCS, Mark Mariakis never thought he would be the team’s head coach the following season.

Said Mariakis-“Yeah, it’s God’s plan. It wasn’t a plan to come over here and be in this in this chair again.”

Said quarterback Matthew Mercer-“Coach Mariakis brings a lot of life wherever he goes. Energy is huge with him and not only with the football team, but in his life, so he brings that to this football team.”

And Mariakis is changing things up.
Said Mariakis-“I mean this is the first year our kids have ever taken a snap under center in CCS football history.”

Added Mercer-“I’ve been playing football here since 6th grade, and I’ve never taken a snap under center. It was definitely awkward at first.”

Mariakis would also like to see more charge out of the Chargers.

Said Mariakis-“We’re going full pads four days a week. That’s part of the mental and physical toughness that you’ve got to create.”

Said wingback Justin Wheeler-“But I love it. I love the contact. I love the intensity that it forces us to bring to every practice.”

CCS claimed their first ever playoff victory last season, and they hope to build off of that this year.

Said Wheeler-“Winning the first playoff game in our history. We’re trying to get back to that and make it not just a one time thing, but a regular occurance.”

Said Mariakis-“But we’ve talked to our kids about every season is brand new. We’ve got a new group of kids. We’ve only got six seniors. Out of 49 kids, 37 of them have never played on a Friday night, so we have to make our own history.”