New Overlea head football coach Chris Fallon has learned a lot about football -- mostly off the field.

After being a JV player at Loyola High for a year, the Parkville resident was cut from the varsity three times.

That sets him apart from most other high school head coaches, many of whom either played extensively at the prep or college level.

So where did Fallon earn his spurs? In the film room, coaching clinics and long one-on-one conversations with college coaches.

"I just love the game and coaching is just what I have set out to do," said Fallon, who played football for seven years in the Loch Raven Rec program. "I have really learned how to study film. I have been a student of it. I appreciate the game and what it's all about."

Fallon, 49, succeeds Keith Robinson, who took the head football coaching job at Perry Hall.

Robinson said he grew increasingly frustrated with transfers and academic eligibility problems at Overlea, while Fallon hopes to answer the new challenge by making his players' academic achievements his No. 1 priority.

"I have a vision to help these kids be students first and athletes second," Fallon said. "They don't have any vision, any goals. I believe that will pave the way for the ones that can be college-bound football athletes to be able to actually get there."

Fallon said he has already taken one step to help keep the players focused. His varsity players will attend their first class of the morning with Fallon doubling as their homeroom teacher.

"That way, at the beginning of the day, they start off with me right off the bat," he said. "They are in my room for 15 minutes and I can see how they are doing. If there are any behavior problems, I can talk to (them) about it."

Besides, Fallon won't be awed by his new position after serving as an assistant to Robinson from 2004-2006. He's been a math teacher at the school since 2002.

He also was the strong safeties coach at Johns Hopkins University last year and for five seasons as an assistant at his high school alma mater.

"He is incredibly organized and very detailed," Johns Hopkins coach Jim Margraff said. "I think Chris enjoyed being here at Hopkins, but I think he saw he could make a greater impact on the students at Overlea. He sees an opportunity with a lot of promise."

At Overlea, he hopes to continue the winning tradition. The Falcons have gone 43-21 over the past six seasons with two playoff berths.

"He likes the challenge of working there," Robinson said. "He feels it's his calling to work with these kids."

Overlea athletic director Bruce Malinowski added: "A lot of successful coaches are able to maximize what they have. I think he will, too."

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