Canevari steps down as coach at Montrose

BY JOBY FAWCETT
Times Shamrock Writer

Russell Canevari has chosen his family over football.

After three seasons as the head coach at Montrose, Canevari has resigned. He is the third coach of a Lackawanna Football Conference program to step away in the offseason, joining Joe Gerek at West Scranton and Evan Prall at Riverside.

In Week 2 of this season, Canevari and his wife Erica, who have a 6-year-old daughter, Eva, welcomed their second daughter, Ila.

“I wanted to spend more time with my family,” Canevari said. “I just wanted to be around more with my daughters. I enjoy being called dad more than being called coach.

“I always told my players that family should come first, and I would be a hypocrite if I didn’t practice what I preached.”

In three seasons at Montrose, Canevari, a former standout at Valley View who helped the Cougars to the 1992 PIAA Class AA championship, had a 3-27 record in the LFC Division III.

During his second year, Montrose ended a 35-game losing streak and finished with two wins.

“I had great kids and the Montrose school district has great people,” Canevari said. “It’s a process and I think we did some positive things and reached some goals. We increased participation and more people came out to the games.

“I really couldn’t have asked any more from the kids, they did pour their heart and souls into the sport.”