Back from a nice 8-day break from work. I didn’t do all that much, although I managed to play golf six times despite rain every single day.

During the break I heard about two coaching changes in local football. Woodlands hired Phil Treglia, a former Iona Prep quarterback and assistant coach. Kennedy Catholic recently named Rob Schwartz as its new coach.

Woodlands, as you’re probably aware, has struggled in recent years. The Falcons have undergone a few coaching changes in the last five years, including one mid-season, and is simply looking for some stability in the program. With Treglia, they should find it.

Treglia, who just turned 33, has coached at Iona Prep at various levels since 2002. He was a varsity assistant and quarterbacks coach when the Gaels implemented the spread offense, working closely with Ryan O’Neill, and plans to install the offense at Woodlands this season.

“The new AD (Matt Smith) has only been there for a year and he’s looking to build the program,” said Treglia, who’s also the JV and varsity assistant basketball coach at nearby Hamilton. “We’re looking to solidify it with organization and discipline. The kids, so far, are following the lead.”

The signs so far have been encouraging for Treglia. He had a meeting with the team last week and had 30 kids sign up already. They received calendars for summer workouts and camps, and he’s visited the community center to speak to younger kids about the future of the program. There were 15 kids at the first weight room session, while some of the rest were either competiting at the state track and field meet. Running the spread offense should certainly entice more kids to come out.

“We had the wristbands out and everyone got a book on the offense,” Treglia said. “We’ll run an uptempo offense where we can get our athletes out in space. It will make it fun and I think will attract more people to the program.”

And add in the fact the school has a new weight room facility — equipped with t.v. and air conditioning – and a new turf field, and it’s possible the excitement for football at Woodlands will grow quickly.

Woodlands, which will compete this season in the new developmental league, has some talent coming back, especially on the perimeter. Kenneth Merchant and Chad Burgess are senior WR/OLB/DBs, and Kevin Sainvil is a speedster at receiver.

Up at Kennedy, Schwartz inherits a Kennedy program coming off a breakout season. It reached the Class B playoffs and has a nice core of talent returning. Being a private school, Kennedy has long been considered a sleeping giant.

Football, as you’re reading, is getting into full swing. I did attend part of the Big Apple Shootout at White Plains on Saturday and saw Stepinac, John Jay, Croton, Haldane, North Rockland and Irvington for a bit. More on that later.