Leading off today: With sports programs at many high schools in the state more than a century old, there are more than a few "coaching trees" that span generations and spread across all of New York -- and beyond for that matter.
Take, for instance, the many men who've played lacrosse at SUNY Cortland under well-known coaches and then went into the coaching profession themselves. That initial list is impressive all by itself. But it becomes even more staggering when, for instance, you dig down a generation to look at the list of dozens of men who played for Cortland grad Mike Messere at West Genesee High School and have now gone into coaching themselves.
Well, there's a different tree taking root at one Western New York high school and what it lacks in depth it makes up for in the breadth covered in just a short time. In a story Sunday, The Buffalo News documented the region's amazing NFL pipeline that originates from coach Jerry Smith's football program at St. Francis High School.
On consecutive days last January, 1992 graduate David Caldwell was introduced as the Jacksonville Jaguars’ general manager and Tom Telesco ('90) became the youngest GM in San Diego Chargers history. Both got their starts in the business through connections with respected former NFL executive Bill Polian, whose son Brian is nw the head coach at the University of Nevada.
Brian Polian's brother Chris is the Jaguars' director of pro personnel. In addition, alum Brian Daboll, an offensive coordinator previously with three NFL teams, is an assistant coach with the New England Patriots. And Kyle Smith ('02, Washington Redskins regional scout) is also working in the Sunday (and Monday and Thursday) league.
Here's the link to the whole story explaining how the branches on this tree came to be.
College plans: Newburgh Free Academy rising senior Jalen Williams has verbally committed to play football at the University of Pittsburgh beginning in the fall of 2014. The safety already had offers from several other schools including Syracuse, UMass and Temple, The Times Herald-Record reported.
Williams primarily was recruited by Pitt assistant John Palermo, a 1970 Newburgh graduate.
"That was a big factor," Williams told the newspaper. "We kind of had a bond and I think (Palermo) will look out for me. I just liked the campus, they treated me well and I think it's cool that they train right next to the Pittsburgh Steelers."
