SECTION IV FOOTBALL: AIELLO STEPS DOWN AS HEAD COACH AT TIOGA (April 24, 2026)


HISTORIC CAREER INCLUDES 12 SECTION IV, 5 STATE TITLES

By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
TIOGA CENTER — After 16 seasons, 12 Section IV titles, and five state titles, Nick Aiello is stepping down as head coach of the powerhouse Tioga football program.

Aiello amassed an astounding 156-28 record, which is an 84.8 percent winning percentage, over 16 season, including a 33-3 mark in the Section IV playoffs, and a 22-7 record in the state playoffs.

"It just boils down to spending more time with my family," said Aiello. "I've been doing this a long time ... and it just feels like a good time.

"On a personal level, I'd like to spend more time with my family," said Aiello. "My kids (Winston-9, and Willa-8) are at an age now where it's getting really busy, and I don't want to miss a lot with them.

"When I boiled it down, I thought I was going to be selfish one way or the other," noted Aiello. "Either, I was going to be selfish by stepping away from the program and the team to be with my family, where as if I keep coaching, I'm being selfish by taking time away from my family.

"For me, I knew the right thing to do was step away and be with my family more," he added.

Aiello said there were many hours of internal debate involved in his decision.

"The decision didn't come lightly," he said. "I feel like I've put so much time and effort to get to this point, where we have a program that's strong and can re-load year after year.

"There are so many people who have supported us, it was a really tough decision, especially as the leader of the program, you feel like you're letting people down.

"But, I feel like it's the right decision, and the timing is right," he added.

Aiello isn't the only one stepping away from the program as longtime assistants Adam MaCauley, who has been with Aiello since Day 1, and Jordan Hathaway are also moving aside.

"Mac (Adam MaCauley) is stepping down," said Aiello. "He's in the same boat I am, we don't have a lot of family around here, so we end up missing a lot. 

"Hath (Jordan Hathaway) has two young kids at home and will be coaching the girls basketball team, and that would be a lot, stepping from a fall sport right into a winter sport," added Aiello.

As for the program, Aiello believes he's stepping away at the perfect time, with former players Connor Hutchinson, Jake Howland, Tyler Spires and John Worthing on the staff.

"If you look at the assistant coaches we have, ex-players who played for me, and have been coaching under me, I think we're in a good spot as a program, and it's a good time to hand the program over to them.

"To have former players — all of them are former players — take over the program, how lucky could I be?" said Aiello "These are Tioga guys through-and-through, and I think that will help a lot.

"This is a program that is supported by the community so much, so to have guys who have been part of the community — and not just the school and the football program — is going to help them out a ton, and to continue driving the program forward," he added.

Aiello notes he's been setting up his exit strategy for years.

"The plan is for the guys that have been coaching with us the last four or five years to take over the program," said Aiello. "We spent a lot of time and met quite a bit
to have the succession plan in place before I announced the varsity staff was stepping down.

"My goal has always been to leave this strong program even stronger," he noted. "When I knew I was going to step down I believed it was important for the program, school district, community, but most importantly for the players to know that we have put a lot of thought and effort into
establishing a good succession plan. 

"It’s all pending board approval, but I'm so excited for these former players, that have been with us through these championship seasons, to take over, and we've already been meeting to hash out the details and plan for summer," continued Aiello. "Another reason I feel so lucky in the position I'm in - to be able to hand over the program to former players of mine, it's something I hold dear to my heart.  I look forward to mentoring them and seeing them succeed.

"We're in a really good spot," added Aiello. "That's why I've taken so long to announce this because I wanted to make sure everybody, especially the kids, know there's a plan in place as I step away."

The 2026 Tigers return their entire line, and part of its backfield, including senior-to-be QB Jackson Bombard and fullbacks Max Stauder and Shane Platukis, and are an early favorite to repeat as state champs.

Was Aiello's decision tougher knowing a sixth state title was within reach?

"Not really," said Aiello. "I made the decision to step down during the (2025) preseason.

"Coming off the three-peat, I was thinking about how much time coaching was taking up. I got really burned out those three years," he said. "It was nice to go 40-0 for sure, but there was a lot of time dedicated to it.

"As a high school football coach at a small school, you're doing absolutely everything.

"For most years I've been head coach, you could say I was the athletic trainer, strength and conditioning coach, and the equipment manager ... taking care of so much, and trying to create and maintain that championship level, it takes a lot out of you," said Aiello.

"After the three-peat, I thought about stepping away, but at the end of the day, I just didn't think the timing was right.

"After '24, I didn't want to leave this year's senior class. I really thought we had unfinished business to take care of," he said.

"Going into the '25 season, I remember in the preseason thinking this was probably it.

"I really liked this group. I really like this group of seniors, and the juniors we had," said Aiello. "It just felt like there was great chemistry, so if this was it, I would be OK with it.

"As the season went on, especially toward the end of the season, I keep feeling this was probably it," noted Aiello. "I thought if we could get to and win a Sectional championship it would be a pretty good way to go out.

"Then, sure enough, we rattle off 13 straight wins. To go out with a state championship is incredible," Aiello added.

Aiello says the 2025 team will always be special to him.

"Really the way we did it, and the way we were playing — those kids, the work they put into it, and the way they led each other, and the way they played with a lot of people doubting them, their toughness, and willingness to work and get better every day, it was like a perfect team," said Aiello

"Not perfect in the sense of winning a state title, but it was a team that represented everything I wanted to have in a team — that grittiness and the willingness to put forth whatever you had to be victorious, and walk away with a state championship.

"I knew 100 percent after the Sectional final this was going to be it, and we went out on top, and I'm very thankful for that," Aiello added.

Aiello doesn't rule out a return to coaching after his kids are out of school, but for now he's looking forward to being a background player in the program.

"I'm looking forward to mentoring the guys who are taking over," he said. "If I could be invisible and help out as much as possible, I'd really enjoy that.

"Even now, I'm trying to set up everything for next fall. I want everything in place for them, so the young guys can just worry about coaching the first year.

"And, I'll be here the whole way to help them," he added.

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IN PHOTO: Tioga coach Nick Aiello celebrates the 2025 state title. IN TOP PHOTO: Nick Aiello's final trip into the locker room as Tioga football head coach. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.

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