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As far as Poland head coach Tom Pavlansky is concerned, there are never too many cooks in the kitchen.
Too many chiefs and not enough Indians?
Nonsense!
It's like suggesting that you can have too many former head coaches on the same sidelines.
"You simply cannot place a value on experience," Pavlansky said. "I wouldn't trade those guys for anything. They keep me grounded, they can be problem-solvers because they've been through it all. Their presence is invaluable."
Pavlansky is referring to three former head coaches - Ryan Williams, Brian Palmer and Brian Jones - who are part of the Poland coaching staff.
Pavlansky is not alone when it comes to including former head coaches on his staff. In all, there are at least 24 former head coaches who currently serve as assistant coaches throughout Trumbull and Mahoning County.
Sixteen of the 34 football-playing schools in the two counties list at least one former head coach as an assistant on its staff.
"I think it shows that a whole lot of people care about football and it also shows just how tight-knit the coaching fraternity is in the Mahoning Valley," Pavlansky said. "At the end of the day, we're all in this together.
"It's not uncommon for coaches to call one another an hour after the games end, just to share some thoughts. There is a lot of camaraderie, so to have all of these coaches move around to different staffs is not a surprise."
Such camaraderie is exactly what brought Chet Allen back onto the sidelines as an assistant following a six-year stint as the head coach at Liberty. Last year Allen coached alongside Pavlansky at Poland. This year he is coaching defense at Mineral Ridge under Brian Shaner. Allen also coached with Shaner at Niles prior to getting the Liberty job.
"Being an assistant last year at Poland was like going to Disneyland, it rejuvenated my coaching career," Allen said. "The kids listened and wanted to be coached, there was an outpouring of community support, and the coaches were fantastic.
"The coaching fraternity in this area is like a brotherhood. Working alongside those guys in Poland last year and now here at Mineral Ridge, it has shown me that we're all in this together. We're all on the same page and we're all aiming for the same goal."
Allen acknowledged that he would never rule out a return to the head coaching ranks, saying that he is "happy being a contributor and a contender," but much like a former heavyweight champion, "once you win that belt, you have that urge to return to the top."
"But right now, I enjoy being in the shadows," Allen said. "I'm like a secret service agent, always looking out for my head coach and trying to keep him out of harm's way."
Tim McGlynn was the Champion head coach for three seasons. He began his coaching career as an assistant at Austintown Fitch, Lowellville and Warren G. Harding. He is now a defensive line coach under Dan Reardon at Ursuline.
"It's a really relaxing role for me, I'm around the program for eleven months but at the same time I'm not surrounded by all of the administrative stuff that goes along with being a head coach," McGlynn said. "What makes this an ideal situation is that Coach Reardon treats his assistants like gold."
McGlynn noted that even with his head coaching experience, there is always room for improvement.
"Every single day, I feel like I learn something from Coach Reardon or from someone else on the staff," McGlynn said. "You never stop gaining insight as a coach, no matter how long you've been doing this."
"Being an assistant allows me to kind of take a step back and absorb some things that maybe as a head coach I might have missed in the past. Over the years I've worked with some great coaches who are also great men. I've learned from each one of them, and I continue to learn today."
West Branch assistant coach Ken Harris is in the unique position of swapping roles with a coach who just seven months ago worked under him. Harris resigned as the West Branch head coach last January, just months after leading the Warriors to a 13-1 record. Today he serves as a line coach under Tim Cooper, who last year was the team's offensive coordinator.
"I guess the biggest change is that last year I was the Big Cheese," Harris said. "Now, they refer to Tim as Big Cheese and I'm Little Cheese.
"Seriously, not having to deal with all of the management and administrative issues of being a head coach is a welcome change for someone who just loves to coach football. Right now my role is to coach the game, and I love it."
Harris is a West Branch graduate who still lives close to the school. He has been involved in the Warriors football program at all levels and in all capacities for 32 years.
"I go back to the days of transferring game film onto VHS tapes, of driving somewhere at six in the morning to exchange game tapes with an opposing coach," Harris said. "I learned very early on that you're only as good as the people around you. I always knew that if I ever became a head coach I'd only do it if I was able to put a solid staff in place.
"That's why I was anxious to hand off the baton to Tim. I knew the program would be in good hands."
Because he is just one year removed from being the head coach, Harris says he is extra mindful to "stay in my own lane."
"This current senior class has been leaning on me for two, three years," Harris said. "I'm still here for them, but I want them to understand that there's a new boss."
Given his resume, it is safe to say that Rick Shepas could be serving as a head coach at any number of area schools if he chose to do so. Shepas' past head coaching stints include successful stops at Poland, Massillon and Waynesburg University.
Today, Shepas serves as an assistant coach at Cardinal Mooney High School.
"For me it's all about purpose," Shepas said. "Regardless of what my title is, I'm a coach, I'm in it for the same reasons as always. I think any coach will tell you the same thing, we're in it for the love of the game and for the teaching aspect. And it's not just about football, it's about being a mentor and teaching beyond the game."
Shepas said he is not surprised at the large number of former head coaches who are now roaming the sidelines throughout the Mahoning Valley.
"First of all, I think it shows just how many great coaches we have in this area," Shepas said. "More importantly, it showcases the passion this area has for high school football and for doing things the right way."
"Most of these (assistants), they hold that title in name only. They could very easily be head coaches and they are having every bit of an impact as they did when they were in charge."