Marines will be next the service endeavor for popular young Albion youth football coach
Photo by Mike Wertman – Albion JV Division youth football Coach Tyler Rotoli meets here with two of his players, Javon and Amari Jones, after Saturday’s regular season ending win.
He may be only a few months removed from high school graduation but young Tyler Rotoli has already proven himself as a very positive and popular coach in the Albion youth football program.
A former player in the league himself, Rotoli went on to become a multi year starter for the Albion High varsity team. Each season during his high school career he returned to volunteer to help with coaching the youth program and this season has coached the JV Division squad.
“It’s just the connection with the kids that I like the best. You can truly connect with them,” said Rotoli who next week will be exchanging his community service as a youth football coach for service to his country as he leaves to attend Marine Corps basic training.
“Tyler is wise beyond his years,” said Albion youth football Coach Geno Allport. “He played for me and for the last five years he’s been helping us coach. This year I turned over the JV team coaching to him. He really connects with the kids. Every kid matters to him.”
“He has gone above and beyond for our kids,” said Molly Preston whose son Blake plays for the JV squad. “His hard work, dedication and the joy he brings to our kids, he’s beyond wonderful. He’s with out a doubt a great example to all the young boys and will go on to do great things.”
Allport notes that the interest in and dedication to his players that Rotoli has was well reflected in an early morning text message he recently sent to the parents of all his players. In the message he urged the parents to reassure, encourage and support their kids and remind them they can realize their goals and dreams with hard work..
Allport adds that in that in his text message Rotoli asked the parents to “write a heartfelt letter just to reassure the kids that someone is in their corner, that someone cares, that someone is always going to love them. Doesn’t even have to be about football.. A lot of times things like that bring out the confidence and motivation children are lacking. I feel if each parent can connect to each child through a letter and just reassure encourage and inspire them great things will happen. Let them know how proud of them you are! I taught the team to be unbreakable, now I want you guys to tell them you acknowledged that they are truly unbreakable, that you know they can conquer anything as long as they put their minds to it! ”
Rotoli will coach his final game this Saturday when his undefeated (8-0) Albion JV Eagle squad faces Medina in the semifinals of the league playoffs.
