BEAVER TOWNSHIP — The Curbstone Coaches kicked off its 67th season as an organization by presenting the longest tenured high school head football coaches at the helm of area Mahoning Valley schools.

Founded in 1958, the purpose of the organization is to preserve and perpetuate the memory of athletes, coaches, administrators and contributors who have brought favorable reflection and distinction to the Valley.

Addressing Monday’s luncheon group assembled at Avion Banquet Center were Sean Guerriero (Mahoning County), head coach of Springfield Local, Dan Williams (Trumbull County), the McDonald Blue Devils head mentor, and Bob Spaite (Columbiana County), the dean of area grid coaches who has called the shots at Columbiana High since 1994. Each shared their stories and how they came to love the game played with a prolate spheroid.

Guerriero is in his 23rd year as a football coach and 18th with the Tigers. He has compiled a 124-69 overall mark, guiding his Tigers to the 2019 (Division VI) and 2020 (Division VII) state championship game, and a Final Four appearance in 2021 (Division VII).

That run from 2019-21 produced a 38-4 overall mark, one of the very best three-year runs by any area school.

“I’ve had some great mentors and they all had a profound effect on me over the years,” Guerriero said. “I played for Jim Tressel at YSU and he was a master motivator. Paul Hulea, who is currently on my staff, was my scholastic coach at Poland High School and he was a real go-getter, a coach who knew how to build relationships.

“Rob Conklin was very organized and while Rick Shepas was hard on us, he was a coach who made sure that we understood the overall picture and team concept, then proceeded to get us to play above our ability. As a coach, we need to be able to build relationships with the kids and they need to trust us, not just as a coach but as a friend knowing full well they can come to us anytime about anything.”

Williams is an ’88 McDonald graduate, a proud alum who is in his 25th season as Blue Devils head coach and 34th overall as a coach.

He is 166-91 overall, leading MHS to 12 playoff appearances, seven league championships, a regional runner-up finish and 10 undefeated seasons.

He can thank Youngstown State’s respiratory therapy major for altering his career path.

“It is kind of funny now because I wanted to be a respiratory therapist but didn’t do so well on the intro classes,” said Williams, a 12-time Trumbull County coach of the year honoree. “My head coach at McDonald was Andy Golubic and he was my role model. I always enjoyed kids, did some youth coaching and wanted to follow in Andy’s footsteps, so I have been fortunate in many ways.

“Coaching is still X’s and O’s ,and while offenses and defenses have evolved since I became a head coach, you’re still dealing with young kids. We are trying to mold our youth into productive citizens, and watching them develop is all worth it to me. The wins and losses come and go, but what they do in life is a forever memory for me.”

Spaite is his 36th year as a head coach and 50th in coaching.

He is 196-123 overall with five league championships, 13 playoff appearances and three regional runner-up finishes.

Losing his father and mother early in life was devastating to the future head coach.

“My father was a trucker and he was killed in an accident in upstate New York when I was 6 years-old,” Spaite said. “My mother died when I was 16 years-old, so I needed some figures in my life who cared about my well-being. Mel Klingler served as my football coach when I played in high school at Crestview and he was just an absolute great guy.

“I was a Boy Scout, earned my Eagle Scout badge, and Norm Spiker, our scoutmaster, was an absolute gem. My aunt Carol and uncle John Mellinger took me in when my mother died, and for that I have been forever thankful. Those four people really shaped me into the man that I am today.

“I have not had a bad experience as a head coach because the kids that I have coached have all worked hard. They have responded and bought into our system. Jim Tressel has been No. 1 in my book, and I follow former Duke University head coach David Cutcliffe, who has said the advantage to getting older is that your huddle gets much bigger. I am blessed that my huddle continues to expand.”

Next Monday, Ron Strollo, YSU executive director of athletics, will serve as guest speaker.