HIGHLAND HORNETS FOOTBALL CLUB
OUR COACHES
VARSITY COACHES
Branding
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Mike Gibbons, Head Coach/Offensive Cordinator
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Physical Education Teacher at Highland (Teach Speed/Strength For Athletes)
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Going into 20th year coaching Football
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Going into 14th season coaching at Highland
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(2007-2009) Assistant at Highland
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(2015- Present) Head Coach at Highland
Married To Rachael with 4 children. Lainey (13) Cael (11) Molly (9) Nora (5)
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Dominic Lombardi - Corners
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3rd Grade Teacher at Granger Elementary
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4 years of coaching- First year at Highland
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Strongsville HS Freshman Asst. (2021-2022)-
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Keystone HS Varsity Asst. (2023-2025)
Girlfriend Maddie, no kids yet but a bunny, Chester
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Tristan Endo- Defensive Line Coach
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Highland Graduate Class of 2009
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Played for Coach Gibbons in 2007, 2008 and Coach Howard 06-08
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4th year coaching, all at Highland
USMC vet, no kids but have a lizard, Twitch
Kenny Fritz- Offensive Line Coach
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Brunswick Graduate ‘15
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7th year coaching football
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‘16-’17 Brunswick, ‘17-’19 Highland ‘20-’22 Amherst
Husband to Erika, with a baby girl on the way in August
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Mitch Charvet - Wide Receivers / Corners
Mike Nettling- Special Teams, Safeties Coordinator
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Going into 14th year coaching Football
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Previous positions at Walsh Jesuit, John Carroll University, Wren HS (SC)
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Going into 8th season at Highland
Married To Meagan with 2 children. Kennedy (6) Luke (4)
Nate Bracy - Running Backs
Cameron Niehus - Offensive Line/TE/Defensive Line
Chris Meyer- Defensive Coordinator
Linebackers
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English Teacher at Highland High School
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Going into 15th year coaching Football
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Going into 10h season coaching at Highland (2013 - Present)
Married to Kristen with 4 children. Braeden and Kellen (10), Maggie and Averie (8) all attend Sharon Elementary.
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Jordan Gribble- Wide Receivers
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12th year coaching Football
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(2010-2011) Brunswick, (2012-2014) Beachwood.
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Heading into 8th year at Highland (2015- present)
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10th season under Coach Gibbons.
Fiancé to Caitlyn with one crazy 3 year old daughter, Aaliyah.
JV COACHES
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Jordan Gribble- Head Coach, Offensive Cordinator
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12th year coaching Football
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(2010-2011) Brunswick, (2012-2014) Beachwood.
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Heading into 8th year at Highland (2015- present)
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10th season under Coach Gibbons.
Fiancé to Caitlyn with one crazy 1 year old daughter, Aaliyah.
Tristan Endo- Defensive Line Coach
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Highland Graduate Class of 2009
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Played for Coach Gibbons in 2007, 2008 and Coach Howard 06-08
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4th year coaching, all at Highland
USMC vet, no kids but have a lizard, Twitch
Kenny Fritz- Defensive Line Coach, Tight Ends
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Brunswick Graduate ‘15
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7th year coaching football
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‘16-’17 Brunswick, ‘17-’19 Highland ‘20-’22 Amherst
Husband to Erika, with a baby girl on the way in August
FRESHMAN COACHES
Nate Howard - Head Coach
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Chris Wooley - Assistant Coach
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Jay Grissom - Assistant Coach
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Ryan Harper- Assistant Coach
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SUPPORTING STAFF
John Bruketa- Athletic Trainer
Employment: Akron Children’s Hospital 2016-Present
Education: University of Mount Union: 2011-2015 Major: Athletic Training, Minor: Exercise Science
Certifications: Athletic Trainer and Orthopedic Physician Extender
Experience:
-Going into my 7th year as an athletic trainer
-Highland HS: 2020-Present
-Akron North HS: 2016-2020
-University of Akron (Women’s Lacrosse): 2020 season
-I have also helped for extended periods at Archbishop Hoban, Akron East and Kenmore High Schools
Outside of work I care for my mom, tinker around with my jeep and boat, I have a chihuahua husky mix named Leo
HIRING - Speed & Strength Conditioning Trainer
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