NEW YORK STATE FOOTBALL: AIELLO BELIEVES COACHING STAFF, COMMON LINK WITH WRESTLING PROGRAM BIG PART OF TIOGA'S SUCCESS (December 2, 2023)

By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
SYRACUSE - Nick Aiello has 11 Section IV titles, and three state championships to his credit in his 14 years on the sidelines at Tioga. In that time, he has also assembled a coaching staff that makes his job a lot easier.

Aiello is "attached at the hip" with two of his coaches — line coach and childhood best friend Adam MaCauley, and defensive coordinator Jordan Hathaway. He believes they deserve just as much as credit as he gets for Tioga’s success.

"Basically, I get all the headlines, but it’s really like having three head coaches - we do everything together," he said. "We defensive game plan together, offensive game plan together — it’s just a group effort.

"We all put in a lot of time and effort, a lot of work outside of school hours, outside of practice, and a lot of work on Sundays, but it pays off," he noted. "We know if we put in the work, get the kids prepared, and let the kids play on game day, things are going to be good for us.

"It’s fun to work with them, too. We all have the same mentality when it comes to coaching football. We’re all pretty even-keeled. If anyone gets fired up, it’s usually me, but they have a way of keeping things calm, and keeping things consistent.

"As assistant coaches, I really appreciate them helping me as much as they do," he continued. "I think it’s a luxury. I don’t think every program is like that.

"They’re willing to do the extra stuff — show up at the weight room, show up at summer camp, show up at practices that aren’t on the books; and that’s what you need," added Aiello. "If you don’t have that, it’s going to be very hard to run a program."

If there’s one program that’s been as successful in Section IV as Tioga football in recent years, it’s Tioga wrestling, and the two coaching staffs share a common link in JV coach Jason Bellis.

"When I first started as head coach, Jason (Bellis) was just coming into the youth program," said Aiello. "He was able to get a lot of other people involved, who are still involved in the youth program.

"This group of seniors was really successful in the youth football program because of that," he noted. "(Jason) just built on what was already there, but our youth program is still strong because of all his work, and many others.

"On the football side, we were able to get him in as modified coach, so he coached these guys in modified. Then, last year we were able to get him to the JV level," said Aiello. "He’s just a tremendous coach.

"He is the common factor when you look at football and wrestling, because he was in the wrestling room with these guys as youth wrestlers as well, and he’s in the varsity wrestling room now.

"There are a lot of guys I could list off who have helped him along the way, but he seems to be the common denominator as to why our football and wrestling programs are very strong right now," Aiello added.

Aiello believes the youth program has been a key to his program’s continued success.

"I think that’s a lesson for everyone," he said. "Your youth program has to be strong, and you need good coaches down there.

"I think it’s important for varsity coaches to work with youth coaches. Jason (Bellis) and I have always had that relationship even when he was working with the youth program.

"If you talk to Jason, and you start talking about programs, he’s a program-wide guy," noted Aiello. "He wants to do what’s best for the program … he’s not a wins and losses guy, he’s very similar to myself, he’s more of an effort guy, and working-to-get-better guy, and the wins will take care of themselves.

"He’s always instilled that type of work ethic, and I think that’s why these kids work so hard now that we have them at the varsity level," Aiello concluded.

Aiello has also added a trio of former players in Tyler Spires and Jake Howland, who were standouts on several of Tioga’s state semi-finalist teams early in Aiello’s tenure, and Connor Hutchinson, who was the QB on the state title team in 2015, and state semi-finalist in 2017.

"As an older coach now, to see former players come back and want to be part of the program is rewarding," said Aiello. "It means it meant something to them, which is awesome.

"For them, I’m sure it’s special to give back to a program they played for.

"We’re just trying to model good coaching for them, and be a good mentors for them," noted Aiello.

"It’s great having young guys around because they’re the ones who can run around, and hold shields, all the stuff I would do when I was younger," he continued. "It’s exciting for them to be part of it, and it’s exciting for me to have former players on staff. They are a huge help to me, and they each bring something a little different to our staff.

"It helps with the whole program," added Aiello. "When our kids see these former players on a plaque on the wall, or see them in a picture of a sectional championship team, and know they were a part of it, I think it gets the current players excited to see they’re part of something bigger than themselves.

The most recent addition to Aiello’s staff was Perry Silvestri, who coaches the JV team with Bellis, and Spires.

"Really, we had a varsity staff on JVs this year with Jason, Perry, and Tyler," said Aiello. "They did an awesome job.

"Going undefeated was great, but if you watched any of the JV football games, they were playing football the right way," he noted. "There was a lot of playing time for everyone, and a lot of development.

"I appreciate Perry coming in and helping us out, and I think he had a lot of fun doing it," Aiello added.

Aiello also sings the praises of modified coaches Stan Siberski, Jude Paltukis, and Dan Pierce.

"Those three put in a lot of time down at the modified level," said Aiello.

"I tell those guys I don’t care about the wins, I care about getting kids to sign up next year, getting kids excited about playing football, and they do a nice job of that down there," he added.

Aiello notes all three also pitch in and help out at the varsity level.

"Those three guys help us a ton with the filming aspect during varsity games," he said. "Stan takes care of our end zone camera, so I don’t have to worry about it. He also helps set up the replay system.

"And, Dan and Jude travel to away games to film for us," noted Aiello. "To an outsider looking in, you might not think that’s a big deal, but to give up a Saturday to film a varsity football game to me is huge.

"I understand the time it takes, and I know it’s not the most glorious job, but it’s a tremendous help to us," added Aiello. "I always appreciate that."

Aiello and his staff can win their fourth state title Saturday at noon when the Tigers take on Stillwater at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse.

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IN PHOTO: Clockwise, from top left: Nick Aiello, Jason Bellis, Jordan Hathaway, and Adam MaCauley.