Coaches from variety of backgrounds come together to lead Jeannette on playoff run

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Thursday, November 14, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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Jeannette first-year assistant football coach Dustin Shoaf is a school teacher at Yough, his alma mater and a place where he is the all-time leader in rushing yards.

He also works on his family’s farm, so he knows an interesting crop when he sees one. Like the crop of coaches assembled by third-year Jeannette head coach Tommy Paulone.

The staff has experience and youth, an eye for Xs and Os and a stay-hungry mentality that trickles down to the Jayhawks (9-3), who have become the darling of these WPIAL Class A playoffs, a traditional power plugged back in.

There’s Shoaf, a 23-year-old fresh out of Mercyhurst, who works with the offensive linemen and special teams.

“Knowing the tradition of Jeannette football and being a part of it, it’s been phenomenal,” Shoaf said. “(Paulone) got us to buy in. He allows me to coach and he is open to ideas.”

There also is defensive coordinator Anthony Kobus, the veteran presence in the group and the man with the most experience. He was a longtime assistant at Penn Hills under Neil Gordon (1994-2003) and also was on Greg Botta’s staff at Franklin Regional (2006-21).

In 2004, he was the head coach at District 6 Saltsburg.

Kobus was a volunteer coach in 1995 when Penn Hills won a WPIAL title.

“Jeannette is like Penn Hills, only on a smaller scale,” Kobus said. “Same kids, same mentality.”

Paulone, who took over at age 29, launched a search for assistants, vetting them through his long list of contacts in the business.

“Tommy found me,” said Kobus, 50. “He was looking for coaches. I wanted to watch my daughters (Ava and Alexa play basketball, volleyball and soccer at Norwin), so I was a volunteer at first and watched film with him.”

Shoaf, Kobus and another newcomer, Brad Fenton, are transplants who have learned the Jayhawk way.

Fenton, who was the Jayhawks’ middle school coach, brings familiarity to his role as the defensive line coach. He lives in Trafford.

Paulone’s staff also includes three Jeannette alums and former Jayhawk players: associate head coach and offensive playcaller Darius “Fatman” Brown, Shavonte Craft (running backs) and Seth Spino (offensive assistant).

Brown, who is receiver Jayce Powell’s stepfather and quarterback Kymon’e Brown’s uncle, is the lone holdover from former coach Roy Hall’s staff.

The elder Brown experienced a 1-9 season in 2021 after numerous players transferred and a trend of slim rosters started at Jeannette.

“It feels so good to do what we’re doing now,” Darius Brown said. “That 1-9 season was something that never happened before at Jeannette, and we don’t want to see it happen again. We knew we could win again with a great group of individuals who are Jeannette kids.”

Paulone set out to find coaches he felt could help the team regain its footing.

“I wanted our program to have good people, and the best and brightest football minds,” Paulone said. “These guys bring so many strengths to the table. They work well together, and it’s such a cooperative effort. I learn from them every day.”

In the past, Paulone tried to recruit Botta, the late Rich Bowen (his college coach) and John Bainbridge to join his staff.

“It just wasn’t the right time,” Paulone said.

The staff also includes behind-the-scenes “support” men in Jay Shrum, Tom Paulone Sr. and longtime equipment manager Mike Clark.

They help with player transportation, getting the team fed and helping to keep a tight, regimented schedule on track at practice.

“All the spilled milk,” Tommy Paulone said.

The elder Paulone, 69, a longtime Jayhawks’ supporter, said he’s like a booster for the staff and players.

“I try to be positive all the time,” he said. “Players hear negative things. I pump them up. There’s the get-back coach. Well, I’m the pick-me-up coach.”

Clark, a 1994 Jeannette alum, started working as a team manager in 1989. “Mike Mike” has worked under head coaches Bob Murphy, Art Tragesser, Ray Reitz, Roy Hall and now, Paulone.

He has four WPIAL championship rings, the most of anyone on the team.

I want to thank our coaching staff & support staff on what they do on a daily basis for our players & program! Your effort & contributions correlate directly to our success. Thank you, D. Brown, S. Craft, A. Kobus, D. Shoaf, S. Spino, B. Fenton, M. Clarke, T. Sr., J. Shrum! #We pic.twitter.com/JMHEIZJolJ

— Tommy Paulone Jr. (@t_paulone13) November 12, 2024

The younger Paulone is a year-round student of the game. He attends the annual College Gridiron Showcase in Fort Worth, Texas, to expand his coaching mind.

“There are guys there who have coached in the NFL,” Paulone said. “My mentors are Rich Bowen and (former Waynesburg coach) Rick Shepas. They taught me how to get the best out of every offseason. I go to a lot of clinics and Pitt practices. My staff comes with me.”

Tommy Paulone’s wife, Auburn, is an assistant athletic director and works with performance nutrition at Pitt. The couple tied the knot last June.

Back to the other ring-chasers: Shoaf is enjoying this playoff run somewhat vicariously. He never made the postseason in high school or college.

“Eight years, no playoffs,” Shoaf said. “It’s fun to coach these guys. I knew we had talent. They have been working at it (in the offseason).”

Fort Cherry knows the value of a tight-knit staff. Head coach Tanner Garry thinks he’s at a family cookout sometimes when he looks down the sideline or glances up at the press box.

They could change the team name to Fort Garry.

The staff includes Tanner’s father, Tim, his assistant head coach, along with his brother, Brandon Garry (running backs), cousin Corey Garry (linebackers) and uncle Kevin Garry (linemen).

Don’t forget other assistants Brady Whalen, Tanner’s cousin, and Bill Oliverio, his father-in-law.

MacKenzie Garry, the videographer and Tanner’s sister, and the head coach’s cousin, water girl Riley Garry.

“There’s a lot of good that comes from familiarity with your staff,” Tanner Garry said. “We’ve been together five years now and have seen a lot from a coaching standpoint that helps us make adjustments on the fly.”

So, did the Jeannette coaches foresee a team capable of making a playoff run like this one?

“Talent-wise, yes,” Kobus said. “When the brackets came out and we saw the seeds, we thought we could make a run. It’s always all about the seeds.”

Added Kobus: “It’s a privilege to be here. With the tradition and everything … I’m lucky.”

Sieg chasing Pryor

Fort Cherry junior quarterback Matt Sieg is trying to join elite company Friday night.

Sieg, a Penn State commit as a defensive back, is 87 yards shy of 4,000 career yards (3,913). He also has rushed for over 4,000.

Only one other player in WPIAL history has passed and run for 4,000, and he used to play for the Rangers’ opponent — Jeannette great Terrelle Pryor.

Pryor, who went on to play at Ohio State, threw for 4,340 yards and rushed for 4,238.

Sieg has 5,866 yards rushing in three seasons., including 1,495 this year.

Sieg has 150 career touchdowns.

— Bill Beckner Jr.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

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