The Bulldogs new football coach would have dreamt up some plays before practice started, that is, if he had gotten some rest.

“I’m really excited,” said Head Coach Justin Kogler. “I had trouble sleeping the past week because I was running everything over in my mind about how the start of the season was going to go.”

In January, Kogler stepped down from the same position at Bishop Connolly High School to take over for Henry Quinlan, Old Rochester Regional High School’s previous coach. Quinlan coached football at ORR for 13 years, and for 11 of those years he was head coach.

For Kogler, the move is a homecoming of sorts.

From 2008 to 2011, he served as an assistant coach under Quinlan.

The decision to leave Bishop Connolly was a difficult one, but Kogler said coaching in the competitive South Coast Conference League was an opportunity he didn’t want to pass up.

“It’s a physical league,” Kogler said. “It’s going to be tough as usual.”

The Bulldogs have proven to be strong competitors, winning the South Coast Conference A Division championship game in 2013.

Practices started Monday, and Kogler said there will be a learning curve as players review new formations.

“We want to make sure the kids are working hard to know the new offense and new defense,” he said. “There will be a little bit of a transition.”

Also high on Kogler’s list is fostering camaraderie.

“Some of the kids don’t understand how important that is for a team,” he said.

This year, Kogler brought along two new assistant coaches, Zach Bowen and Ray Wilcox.

Bowen is a former ORR football player that Kogler had coached. Wilcox is a colleague of Kogler, who works as a physical education teacher at the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School.

As coach, Kogler said it’s important to set team goals and then make adjustments when necessary.

“We’ll set our sights on a conference championship, but if we’re knocked out of league competition then it’s time to set a new goal to keep the kids motivated,” he said. The Bulldogs first game is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 11 at Cardinal Spellman High School in Brockton. Kick off is at 7 p.m.