COACHING STAFF COMPRISED OF FORMER STANDOUTS HUTCHINSON, SPIRES, WORTHING
By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
TIOGA CENTER — Jake Howland, a 2014 Tioga grad, is the new coach of the reigning Class D state champions, and he has three like-thinking fellow Tioga grads on his coaching staff as the Tigers begin the post-Nick Aiello era.
Howland is humbled and excited to coach his alma mater.
"It's a true full-circle moment," said Howland. "Spending time with those coaches, and now having to go through the emotions of having them step away from it to 'holy cow, now one of us has to step up and be that guy;' it's been a lot to take in, but we're really excited now that we're here.
"We've seen a lot of commitment out of our kids, too," noted Howland. "They're ready to roll, they understand the goal and what it takes to achieve it."
Howland's coaching staff will consist of 2013 grad Tyler Spires, 2018 grad Connor Hutchinson, and 2019 grad John Worthing.
"How special is this?" said Spires of coaching his alma mater. "When I was young, football was everything for me, much more so than wrestling.
"To have the privilege to give back to the sport that molded me and what I do in my adult life is special.
"I think it's a spectacular moment for me to give back to the program," added Spires.
Hutchinson echoed the same sentiments.
"It means a lot to have chance to come back and give back after the program has given so much to me, not only as a player, but having had the opportunity to coach as well."
Howland is looking forward to working with three former all-state players on his coaching staff.
"First and foremost, I'm super happy, I think having them around me is what makes me a little more relaxed about the situation because I have so much confidence in all of them," he said. "They're all brilliant football guys and they understand not only our system, but football in general and they're super willing to learn.
"John Worthing will be in a huge support role for us," noted Howland. "He can do anything. He could work with the line. He can work with the DBs, running backs, and quarterbacks. He could do anything we wanted him to, so he'll be a big support guy for us.
"And Hutch, with his quarterback brain, will be a field general and knows what he's looking at when he's looking at the football field.
"All four of us have a very good relationship with one another," said Hutchinson. "I was a ball boy when Tyler and Jake were playing, and they were super-good guys even then when I was younger.
"We started summer workouts a few weeks ago, and it's gone very well.
"Our ability to work together has really shown," he added. "I think were going to see a lot of good things come from working with those guys."
"Coach Howland and myself were both linebackers, and the linebackers are the core of the defense, so it was constant communication and working together to achieve the same goal," said Spires. "It's been a pretty easy transition as we've moved into coaching."
Spires also believes Howland is the perfect fit for the job.
"Coach (Aiello) was really good to give us a lot of time to talk amongst ourselves ... there was a lot of deliberations behind the scenes in making this decision.
"There was a period of a lot of concern and worry about what was going to happen, but everything has fallen into place and we're all very happy with the positions we've settled into, and I think it's going to be a great dynamic between the four of us," said Spires.
"Jake stepped up, but really he's the most appropriate person for the job," noted Spires. "I think he has a really good mind for both sides of the football.
"Being able to work with him the last few years, and being able to see how much time he puts in, and how he can break down film has really been amazing," added Spires.
All three have nothing but praise and admiration for Aiello, and former line coach Adam Macauley.
"They're role models," said Howland. "It's like a father being there when your real father isn't.
"It's not all about football, it's life skills and how to kind of grow into being a man and how to handle adversity.
"I mean that's why sports are great, right?," he continued. "You learn how to work through the failures and through the successes and how to win, and how to lose.
"Being around Coach Aiello and Coach Mac for all those years as a player and a coach, I just had extra role models to look up to," added Howland. "It's just lesson after lesson and you're just constantly learning. And I'd like to think I was a sponge out there just kind of soaking it all in and I have learned a lot from them."
"Those two have meant a lot to me," said Hutchinson. "First as a teacher in the class room, then playing for them. They've given a lot to me both in the classroom and on the football field.
"The knowledge they've been able to pass on, and how open they've been to teaching us in terms of how the see the game and what they look for has been invaluable.
"Even now as we get closer to the football season, they've been very receptive ... even though they're not officially coaching, they've been very open to helping us out as much as we need," Hutchinson added.
"I can't say enough good things about coach Aiello and coach Mac," said Spires. "They were role models in every sense of the word."
Howland also knows that Aiello and Macauley, who both will remain as teachers at Tioga Central, will still be right down the hall.
"They are just a wealth of knowledge," he said. "So to not use them as a tool would be foolish.
"And, again, all credit to them for still being present and wanting to help behind the scenes. They're even offering to help with some pretty heavy football stuff, like breaking down film or if we need a guy in the box checking a replay iPad.
One of the most important lessons Howland learned from Aiello and Macauley was the art of breaking down game film. He said his staff will use the same blueprint.
"It's something I took pride in, too, even as just a little assistant coach that did whatever I was told," said Howland. "One of my favorite parts of the game is the film study, and the academics of it.
"I mean, you can't you can't go into games and seasons and have this kind of success without putting that kind of time in.
Tioga opens the season Sept. 5 against Delhi as part of its annual season-opening doubleheader at Waverly's Memorial Stadium.
——————————
IN PHOTO: Tioga's Jake Howland.
