HIGHLAND HORNETS FOOTBALL CLUB
OUR COACHES
VARSITY COACHES
Branding
_.jpg)
Mike Gibbons, Head Coach/Offensive Cordinator
-
Physical Education Teacher at Highland (Teach Speed/Strength For Athletes)
-
Going into 18th year coaching Football
-
Going into 12th season coaching at Highland
-
(2007-2009) Assistant at Highland
-
(2015- Present) Head Coach at Highland
Married To Rachael with 4 children. Lainey (11) Cael (9) Molly (7) Nora (3)
Larry Lambright- Linebackers Coach
PE Teacher Cuyahoga Falls High School (28 years)
-
23rd year coaching football
-
2 yrs Chippewa High School
-
12 yrs Cuyahoga Falls High School
-
7 yrs Copley High School
-
2nd year at Highland High School
BGSU Alum, father of two Luke (23) and Jena (20)
​​
Nate Howard, Offensive Line, Defensive Line
-
PE teacher at Highland MS/HS (19 years)
-
Going into my 19th year of coaching football
-
15th year coaching at Highland
Married to Katie and we have 3 kids, Jack, Eli and Annie
Kenny Fritz- Defensive Line Coach, Tight Ends
-
Brunswick Graduate ‘15
-
7th year coaching football
-
‘16-’17 Brunswick, ‘17-’19 Highland ‘20-’22 Amherst
Husband to Erika, with a baby girl on the way in August
Mike Nettling- Special Teams, Safeties, Wide receivers
-
Going into 14th year coaching Football
-
Previous positions at Walsh Jesuit, John Carroll University, Wren HS (SC)
-
-
Going into 8th season at Highland
Married To Meagan with 2 children. Kennedy (4) Luke (2)
Dan Valore - Running Backs, Corners, Special Teams
10 years of coaching - 1st season at Highland
-
Cleveland Heights High School (2013)
-
Buckeye High School (2014-15)
-
Medina High School (2015-16)
-
Brunswick High School (2016-2022)
Married to Marcella for 5 years - 2 year old daughter Gia.
Chris Meyer- Defensive Coordinator
-
English Teacher at Highland High School
-
Going into 15th year coaching Football
-
Going into 10h season coaching at Highland (2013 - Present)
Married to Kristen with 4 children. Braeden and Kellen (8), Maggie and Averie (6) all attend Sharon Elementary.
.jpg)
Jordan Gribble- Wide Receivers, Corners
-
12th year coaching Football
-
(2010-2011) Brunswick, (2012-2014) Beachwood.
-
-
Heading into 8th year at Highland (2015- present)
-
10th season under Coach Gibbons.
Fiancé to Caitlyn with one crazy 1 year old daughter, Aaliyah.
VARSITY CONTINUED
Tristan Endo- Defensive Line Coach
-
Highland Graduate Class of 2009
-
Played for Coach Gibbons in 2007, 2008 and Coach Howard 06-08
-
4th year coaching, all at Highland
USMC vet, no kids but have a lizard, Twitch
JV COACHES
Jordan Gribble- Head Coach, Offensive Cordinator
-
12th year coaching Football
-
(2010-2011) Brunswick, (2012-2014) Beachwood.
-
-
Heading into 8th year at Highland (2015- present)
-
10th season under Coach Gibbons.
Fiancé to Caitlyn with one crazy 1 year old daughter, Aaliyah.
Tristan Endo- Defensive Line Coach
-
Highland Graduate Class of 2009
-
Played for Coach Gibbons in 2007, 2008 and Coach Howard 06-08
-
4th year coaching, all at Highland
USMC vet, no kids but have a lizard, Twitch
Kenny Fritz- Defensive Line Coach, Tight Ends
-
Brunswick Graduate ‘15
-
7th year coaching football
-
‘16-’17 Brunswick, ‘17-’19 Highland ‘20-’22 Amherst
Husband to Erika, with a baby girl on the way in August
FRESHMAN COACHES
Keith Heichel- Head Freshman Coach
-
Going into my 15th year Coaching Highland Hornets Football
-
(2008-2015) Highland Youth Program - Head Coach
-
(2016-2019) Highland 8th Grade Team - Offensive Coordinator
-
(2020-Present) Highland Freshman Team - Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator
Married to Karen - 31 Years with 4 Great Kids - Kayla Wiita(26) Married to Kory Wiita, Katelyn(24) 4th Grade School Teacher, Kelsey(20) and Kevin(18)
Bill Brooker- Freshman Assistant Coach
-
Going into my 6th year coaching football.
-
(2015) Olentangy Youth Football Defensive Coordinator
-
(2016-2019) Highland 8th Grade Team - Defensive Coordinator / Offensive Line Coach
-
Highland Class of 2008 - played under Coach Gibbons + Coach Howard
Married to Hope - 5 years. We have 2 boys, Lucas (2yo) and Henry (1yo).
Josh Gordon- Assistant Freshmen Coach
-
(2012-2014) Revere 8th Grade Team - Offensive Coordinator
-
(2014-2020) Highland Youth Program - Head Coach / OC
-
(2020) Highland 7th Grade Team - Offensive Coordinator
-
(2022) Highland Freshman Team
Married to Ali - 18 Years with 2 kids, Jameson (15) and Scarlet (13)
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
Max Yoder - Speed & Strength Conditioning Trainer
Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach through the NSCA. He received his Bachelors and Masters degree in Exercise Science from the University of Akron. Max has been a strength and conditioning coach for 9 years while helping a wide range of athletes improve their athletic performance and simultaneously decrease their prevalence of injury.
​
​