New Season, New Coaches and Familiar Faces in New Places
- Frank Wolf
- 17 hours ago
- 10 min read
Harper leads list of head coaches in new places
Starpoint Spartans
Jay Baumann moved around quite a bit growing up, going from one school to another. He landed at Starpoint High School as a Junior where he met his future bride. In 2015 he started as a volunteer coach there under legendary Al Cavagnaro, on Thursday night, Baumann will lead the Spartans on the field as the 5th head coach in program history.
“This program gave me a start and now I want to help bring it to new heights,” Baumann said. He was an offensive coordinator for four seasons before uprooting his family and leaving for Texas. He continued to coach football at Summit High School in Arlington where he was a sponge, soaking up as much knowledge about the game as he could. “I learned a lot down there, but we really missed home.” So, the Baumann’s moved back into the district, and he was in his familiar spot on the Starpoint sideline in 2022.
Baumann is well known throughout the area for his play calling ability; he will continue to run the offense. He has added some former standout players to his staff in Aaron Chase, Joe Carlson and Anthony Richardson. All three had tremendous success not long ago working through Baumann’s offense.
Aaron's younger brother David is the teams quarterback and saw action last season.
Tonawanda Timberwolves
It’s not often a guy leaves the bright lights of NYC to take a high school coaching job in western New York but that’s exactly what Courtlan Green did. Not exactly new to the region, Green has children here but he has worked professionally on television and movie sets for most of his life.
Prior to his work on the big screen, however, Green carved out a really nice high school and college football career as a running back. He found his love for the game as a player up at Salmon River High School (Sec X), thanks to his head coach Lou Saban. Yes, that Lou Saban.
“He was in his 70’s at the time,” Green said of Saban. “But he was so good to me and very influential. I love the game because of what I learned playing for him. That’s another reason I wanted to coach”
Green played at SUNY Brockport, at a time when the program was struggling to be competitive. He helped turn the program around and was enshrined in their Hall of Fame (Class of 2017).
“I want to be closer to my children. I started coaching my son’s flag team and had so much fun doing that. I am still coaching his youth team. I started applying to some of the local colleges and eventually saw that this job was open and applied,” Green said.
Outside looking in, the program has seen better days. There’s been a lull in numbers, the talent pool seemed to be anywhere but on the field.
Green says he thinks there is plenty of football talent inside the high school, he just needs to find it and put them in the right spots to be successful as a unit.
“I think we’re going to surprise some teams, we’ve had a solid commitment in the weight room and at practices,” Green said.
Tonawanda will open up against Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton on the road.
Depew Wildcats
Joe Pagano has been waiting for his chance to lead a football program for some time. A Depew graduate (’91), he assumed the head coaching position of the Wildcats after his close friend Mark DiRienzo retired at the end of last school year.
His three sons all went through the program while Joe was an assistant. Pagano began his coaching career at Depew in ’95 working with the modified team. He left however because he accepted a teaching job down in Portville. He coached under Gary Sweatland for two seasons working with the quarterbacks and DB’s. He and his wife then headed up to Lake Shore for two years. He then worked under Mike Sarratori as his offensive coordinator.
It was in 2003 where he jumped on an opportunity to teach in the Depew school district as an art teacher and he and his wife have been there ever since. “I have been blessed to teach and coach here at Depew,” Pagano said.
“All 3 of my sons graduated from here and had great careers playing football, basketball and baseball. My daughter is a senior this year and she has had incredible experiences as well playing soccer, basketball and softball. Working here is truly living my dream!”
Despite losing some top tier talent to graduation, Pagano believes there is a solid nucleus that can make waves in Class B this season.
“We play in what is my opinion one of the best divisions in Section 6 with great talent, especially the QB position with Klietz (Iroquois) and Mest (Olean). Those guys are all 4-year starters!”
Depew started four sophomores lase season, most notably Kole Szratter (QB), Zach Bridenbaker (RB). Also returning is a top-tier lineman in Mason McGloin. “We are excited about the challenge and can't wait to see what we are made of,” Pagano said.
The Wildcats host Dunkirk on Friday night September 5th.
Alden Bulldogs
You can take the football coach out of the school but you can’t take the school out of the football coach. I don’t know if that makes sense, I don’t even know if that sounded good. You’re the one reading this so you tell me, lol.
Of course I’m talking about Mark DiRienzo, who wasn’t out of a job long. Di Rienzo left an exceptional career coaching at Depew by way of retirement and figured he’d be toes deep in the sand somewhere, and he was for a short time before Alden called looking for a head coach.
DiRienzo being the good guy he is took the job and is looking to help improve on their 7-2 record a year ago.
Returning to the Bulldogs are Liam Shaver (TE/DL), Jonathon Koch (OL/DL), Tyler Lucas (QB) and Aiden Dollinger (RB/LB). Lucas was a top rushing threat in ‘24 while he and Shaver were among the leaders last season in the receiving department. Dollinger was the teams leading tackler.
“Honestly, Ken Partell (former assistant AD) and I have been friends a long time and we did start talking last year about this possibility,” DiRienzo said. “My son was a modified coach at Alden last year, now he’s at Depew of all places.”
DiRienzo graduated from Depew in 1982 and played with former NFL quarterback Don Majkowski. He started coaching there in 1993, and it’s the only place he’s ever coached. In 2018 he was named head coach of the varsity team.
Alden will start the season on Thursday Sept. 4th at Wilson in a non-league game.
Randolph Cardinals
It’s not replacing a head coach that has put in a lot of time at one school, but Nate Armella is going to give it a shot. No stranger to Randolph High School, Armella has been there since 2007.
This is his first experience as a varsity head coach. He worked under some beauties in Pat Slater, Brent Brown whom he just replaced and in 2006 he was a volunteer assistant on Frank Payne’s staff at Iroquois.
“My primary focus this season is to get the players ready to compete week 1 and play fast, physical, disciplined Randolph Cardinal Football,” Armella said. “This program is special, it’s what small school football is all about and one of the top programs in the state, at all levels.”
A product of Jamestown High School, Armella went on to play collegiately at Edinboro University In PA, he has been a physical education teacher for 19 years in the Randolph School District, 18 of those years were at the elementary school, he enters year 19 at the high school.
Armella has been around these kids since they started school, the familiarity with each other leaves the door open to endless possibilities for the program now and for years to come.
Joining Nate Armella on the staff this year is none other then Carson Conley who helped lead the Cardinals to back-to-back Class D sectional titles.
Conley’s younger brother Carter, who packed on 60 pounds of muscle this offseason. The junior TE/DE looks like he could rip the arms off of any opponent. Also returning are quarterback Jaxon Morrison, RB/DB Kevin McElwain along with Alex Garland and Izaias Dowdy.
Improving on their 5-4 record a season ago is the first order of business, reaching Highmark Stadium in a loaded Class D is the next.
Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton
Ty Harper needs no introduction, he’s the Bill Belichick of WNY high-school football. Not too many coaches are walking up and down the sidelines with three NYS championship rings.
When the opportunity presented itself to lead the Eagles to the promise land, it was too good of a chance for Harper to pass up. Nevermind the amount of talent returning this season, Harper’s family lives within 7 miles of Chautauqua Lake where he is a social studies teacher.
Harper built the CSP Wolfpack. He coached the program from its infancy in 2015. For him, it was a very hard decision to step down last December. But his family has to come first and having an opportunity to live closer to home and the ability to see his own kids eventually come through the program he is now coaching is a dream come true.
“My dad and mother-in-law are both graduates of the old Mayville high school, and my father-in-law graduated from Westfield. My wife graduated from Westfield. That's meaningful to me and I want to help this program compete at a championship level,” Harper said. “I help coach all 3 of my sons' youth football and baseball teams.”
Key returning players for the Eagles are Brayden Gibbs (QB), Carson Fairbank (WR), Nick Jacbson (WR) and Asher Olson (TE). Gibbs was among top passers in Section VI a season ago while Fairbank, Jacobson and Devin Hewes had great years receiving.
“My focus this year is to continue to build on the success that this program had last year,” Harper said. “I want to help cultivate a tough, physical football team that regularly competes at the highest level. We have been working hard to prepare throughout the spring and summer, and we've had a competitive August camp. Hopefully we can continue to improve everyday and the work will pay off in the fall.”
The “Eagles Nest” will host Tonawanda week one. It’ll be a homecoming week 4 when CWB visits CSP. Hopefully they roll out the red carpet for him, he certainly deserves it.
Springville Griffins
John Baker is gearing up for his first year as the head coach of the Springville football team.
Although Baker does not work in the school, he works in the village and knows the Griffins program like the back of his hand.
A former player in his own right, his kids came through the program and has coached them through the years. He’s been an assistant at Springville the past six seasons. Coaching is in the Baker bloodlines. His Uncle Jim coached at Frontier and his Uncle Bill was the head coach at East Aurora, Springville and Frontier before he retired from coaching altogether.
“There is so much football history in Springville,” Baker said. “Being the home town of “POP” Warner, also plenty of past success.”
The Griffins failed to make the playoffs last season but certainly performed at a higher level then what we’ve seen in prior years. Springville finished 5-3, capping off their season with a win over Lew-Port.
Cole Gabel returns to lead the Griffins along with James Rola, Grant Mickalski and Bailey Oatman. Gabel scored five rushing touchdowns and rushed for over 700 yards.
They’ll face Fredonia in the season opener Friday night. They have a spectacular lighting system down in Springville. Worth the trip!
Clymer/Sherman/Panama
This isn’t his first rodeo as a head coach, Dave Bodamer was the last head coach at Clymer High School before the program merger with Sherman and eventually Panama. Bodamer has been working as an assistant to Ty Harper ever since and ready to take over the storied program.
Bodamer is not as animated as his predecessor but the familiarity between kids returning this season and those currently working through is second to none. Which is why I believe that CSP has the right man to continue leading the program.
The toughest part for Bodamer isn’t going to be playing up in Class C this season, instead it’ll be trying to make up for the amount of offensive skill and production we’ve seen out of the Wolfpack the past two-three seasons. You can’t just replace Tate Catanese, Bryce Hinsdale, Alex Barmore and Carter Brink. The confidence in which those four played with together was unmatched in NYS, in my opinion.
Carson White takes over at QB, he threw less then a handful of passes last season. Watching him over the summer however, you can tell he has ability to make plays.
As a freshman last season Sawyer Whitney had over two dozen carries and averaged just under 7 yards per rush. He tallied five touchdowns. That’s a solid contribution for any rusher let alone a 9th grader. Lincoln Gibbs (Sr), Bryan Gomez (Jr) and Kameron Einink (Sr) should see considerable playing time this year and will be expected to lead this team.
Matthew Redlecki, Gavin Burchanowski, Mason Weber and Wyatt Eggleston saw valuable time on varsity last year as well. They may not have the horses they did a year ago, but each of those young men have what nobody else does in Class C, championship rings. They have the blueprint on how to win a state title.
CSP hosts Franklinville/Ellicottville on Saturday 9/6.
Akron Tigers
The Tigers were on a mission last season rattling off three straight convincing victories. Then they ran into Newfane and lost by a point, then the injury bug started to take it’s toll. Akron ended up with a 5-5 record overall.
A silver lining, they beat a solid Southwestern team in the Chuck Funke Bowl 20-14 in their final game.
Erik Gerstung was named head coach this past spring. He takes over for Andy Clouse whom he worked under as an assistant.
Blake Gerstung led the team with six receiving touchdowns last year. And the only returning player to have caught a pass. A significant part of the offense was made up of seniors.
Other then Gerstung, of the returning players, only James Crooks recorded a tackle (source sectionvifootball.com).
Gerstung will have his hands full with a young but determined group this season.
They will host Gowanda/Pine Valley in the season opener. The Panthers boast one of the top rated passing units in Class D.
Clarence Red Devils
Chris Dickson isn’t a new head coach. He had a stint at Lancaster after Len Jankiewicz retired. He also was the head coach of St. Mary’s of Lancaster. Dickson now replaces Paul Burgio who retired last spring. He’s been on staff the past five seasons.
The Red Devils had a memorable run through Section VI two seasons ago winning the Class A title. They were unable to return to Highmark Stadium in 2024 but were still one of the top teams in the Class.
Like Akron, they graduated a ton of seniors and give up a lot of varsity experience, at least in the skill positions.
They do have a number of lineman coming back including Kaius Mattoon (6’2/260).
It looks as though Nate Arnold will be the guy at quarterback. A 6’3” individual who has been mentioned to me by local observers as a talented kid.
Overall four starters on offense return while there will be five returning defensive starters.
Dickson is a former player at Camden High School and SUNY Cortland. He is also the varsity lacrosse coach at Lancaster.