Scott Price acknowledged the administration, recognized his predecessor, expressed gratitude to his mentors and thanked his family.

Then, he got down to business."I stand before you not only humbled, but honored to accept this position and announce before you all, that it's time," announced Price. "It's time to stop crumbling and start building. It's time to stop hoping and start accomplishing. It's time to stop accepting and start excelling."That process started in earnest Wednesday, when Price was formally introduced as the new head football coach at Panther Valley.Price takes over for Matt Davis, who coached the Panthers for the past three years. Davis resigned following a 2-8 mark this past season and had a 5-25 record during his tenure."I don't know what I can do differently than prior coaches, but I know what I'm going to do to build my team," Price said. "And that is, getting in here right away. This Monday we'll start our offseason program, start our offseason workouts, and it'll be year-round. It's not going to be a part-time position here."I do promote playing other sports, but if you're not in other sports, I do fully expect you to be in the gym with me and my coaching staff."While the workouts might not start until Monday, Price and several of his assistants got a good look at some of the players that will be returning to next year's team on Wednesday, as many were in attendance to welcome their new head coach."It means a ton. I can't describe what it means," Price said of having many of his players present. "I was outside worrying it was going to be a thin crowd, and then all of a sudden they piled in."Price also took a moment to address those who were present."Fellas, I hope you're ready, I really do," Price said to a focused group of players seated before him. "You put your trust in me, and you buy into the program, and we'll bring this school a title. You know, they haven't had a title here since 1998. And it's time. It's time to bring it back. It's time to put us back on top. It's time to hoist a trophy. It's time to hang another banner."So buy into the program, come dedicated, and we're going to do some great things here."A Schuylkill Haven graduate, Price was the offensive line coach for his alma mater in 2010 and 2011. He has been a volunteer member of the Hurricane staff since, helping film and scout opponents on a weekly basis. This will be his first head coaching position.Though it will be his first time leading a team, Price has had a great deal of support to guide him along the way."Coach Farr has been a big mentor of mine," Price said of the Schuylkill Haven's Mike Farr, who led the Hurricanes to a District 11 Class 2A title this past fall. "I'm pretty close with (Lehighton head coach) Tom McCarroll, he's been a great mentor as well. Kristin (Black, Panther Valley athletic director) has been great during the transition. The principal; the superintendent; everybody here at Panther Valley has welcomed me with open arms, and I think that's what has made the transition so smooth."I don't feel like there's going to be any struggling, just because of the support I have. I met with the booster club this past weekend, and it was an amazing time. So I wouldn't say it's been one or two people, I think it's just been the Panther Valley family that has made the transition so good."Part of that development has also involved staying in touch with Davis."I've been in contact with Matt a lot, and I wish him the best of luck," Price said of Davis. "He's helped me out with anything I need. He's offered to sit down and talk about some things as the head coach - some responsibilities that he had, that he wants to pass down to me. So Matt's been great."But now, this is Price's team. And he's ready to get to work."To everyone in attendance, to the town, the community, the players and the parents, and everyone who bleeds black and gold, it's time to work, it's time to shine, it's time to believe and it's time to achieve," he said. "It's time to put Panther Valley back on top, and it's time to stop being a stepping stone for every other team in this county. It's time to be the best again."