Staff photo / Dan Hiner Cardinal Mooney coach Frank Colaprete, center, talks to a group of kids during the “Football Camp of Champions” on Tuesday.

YOUNGSTOWN — For a little over five months, Frank Colaprete has been settling in at Cardinal Mooney High School.

Hired in late January, the former Wooster football coach has transitioned to becoming the athletic director over the course of the spring. But on Monday and Tuesday, he was back in his comfort zone.

Cardinal Mooney held its annual “Football Camp of Champions” for players from third to eighth grade.

Guests and members of the varsity football team helped coach the youth players as Colaprete oversaw the camp.

“It’s an exciting time, especially having over 90 kids here,” Colaprete said. “This camp is great in numbers, the kids are having fun, being excited. You can see our players working with them, coaching them up.

“To see the numbers here, the excitement back in the camp of champions — as well with our guys here — the comradery going on, it’s a great start to, hopefully, a great season.”

In addition to players and members of the staff, there were several notable alumni who helped out.

Former Browns and Steelers quarterback Mike Tomczak, Akron Tight Ends Coach Reno Ferri, Youngstown State Cornerback Coach Michael Zordich Sr., Baltimore Ravens Defensive Backs Coach Donald D’Alesio and Campbell University Offensive Coordinator Matt Kubik were also in attendance.

“It’s been an amazing couple days here, seeing the guys come back and share some of their knowledge, their wisdom,” Colaprete said. “The resources for the young kids here has been blissful.”

The instructors had the kids throwing, catching, running and kicking. One of the highlights for the campers was a game of tag toward the end of Tuesday’s event.

Attendees were broken up by grade and threw the ball around coned-off areas stretching sideline to sideline. The goal was to “score” by reaching the opposing sideline, and if tagged, passing the ball to a teammate to continue working upfield.

Colaprete’s goal was for the camp to be instructional and fun. He wanted the campers to learn football while also giving them an entertaining way to understand what the sport is like at the higher levels.

“There’s not much walking going on. They’re running from drill to drill,” Colaprete said. “Kind of a football mindset, a Mooney mindset … no walking on Don Bucci Field. And having our guys instill (knowledge) in the young guys, it’s been great.”

The “Football Camp of Champions” was a brief return to the field for Colaprete, working with youngsters and alumni. But in a few weeks, he’ll be back on the field for a more high-stakes stretch.

He’ll be tasked with getting the varsity football team ready for the 2025 season, and he said he’s ready after settling in at Mooney.

“It’s been great, it’s been fun. Everything I could have imagined and more,” Colaprete said. “The excitement has grown, believe it or not, after being back home, being here, walking the halls. Now being able to work and coach these guys, it’s been awesome.”