A head coach is the face of a high school football program.

His assistants are the backbone.

A coaching staff is a team within the team. Dedication, communication and trust are needed to maximize the squad's potential.

Jeff Bell has spent 16 seasons as the Grove City head coach, but has only had the benefit of a stable staff since 2004. The team has blossomed with an 80-23 record since then after going 30-36 through Bell's first seven seasons.

Keight Degraff has been the Eagles' offensive coordinator since 2004.

“We all know what everybody's doing,” said Degraff. “We're all on the same page.”

Scott Heinauer took over as head coach at Mars in 1992. Since then, assistants Terry Dillner and Brian Hobaugh have missed just one season apiece.

“I don't have to coach the coaches. As a head coach, that's a good thing,” said Heinauer, who owns a 140-85 career record. “I get a lot of the credit, but our assistants are a big reason why we've had the success we've had.”

Continuity makes teaching easier.

“I think the fact that we have a coaching staff that is so familiar with the program and each other helps a tremendous amount toward our success,” said Hobaugh. “You go down into the seventh grade and they are running the same schemes that we do here for the varsity team. By the time those kids get to us, they have that experience with the system.”

Karns City head coach Ed Conto experienced the contrast in stability during his initial years at the helm of the A-C Valley program in the late 1980s.

“When I first started coaching up there, we had turnover in the junior high a lot and we had some varsity turnover. It took a while until I got a consistent staff,” said Conto. “That made a big difference from junior high all the way up.

“If you can get guys all on the same page and work together for a few years, it makes a real big difference,” he said. “I can just let them go and not have to micromanage or do anything like that.”

Offensive coordinator Joe Sherwin and defensive coordinator Brian Markle have been with Conto at Karns City throughout his 14-year tenure. Their history goes back even further.

Conto and Markle began coaching together 30 years ago with the Karns City junior high team.

“One of the kids at our banquet said we're like a married couple with the way we argue,” said Markle, laughing. “That's just the way it is when you're together that long.”

Sherwin began his career at Karns City in 1995 and joined Conto at A-C Valley for a season before they both headed back to the Gremlins.

“I like working with the kids and I enjoy the strategy and the Xs and Os,” said Sherwin. “We have a great staff and we all get along real well with each other.”

“It's a tremendous help,” said Markle. “We kind of know what each other think and when we have our meetings Sunday morning, we're all on the same page.”

The wealth of experience is quite an asset for Conto.

“Joe and Brian are both like head coaches,” said Conto. “They could be head coaches.”

Longtime assistant coach Cecil Blauser is in the midst of that transition at Moniteau.

Before becoming Moniteau's head coach this year, Cecil Blauser served as an assistant coach for 14 years with the Warriors under head coaches Jeff Campbell, Steve Wilson and Tom Kidder.

“Just being around kids and watching them develop from sophomores to seniors is worth it for me,” Blauser said.

“I do it for the love of the game. Walking through town and hearing a former player address you as 'coach.' Next to be called 'dad' by my own kids, that's my favorite word.”

Knoch co-defensive coordinator Matt Savannah is in his 16th year as an assistant coach overall. He's worked under Mark Farabee and Garry Cathell at Butler, along with Mike King at Knoch.

“My favorite part of coaching is Monday through Thursday,” Savannah said. “Those are the work days. Friday night is for them (players).

“I have the opportunity to prepare them for that night. Roll up your sleeves and go to work. I love that.”

Knoch line coach Brandon Mowry is in his 10th season as an assistant. He played for the Knights and Coach King before attending Slippery Rock University.

“As part of my studies, I had to put in 2,000 volunteer hours somewhere,” Mowry said. “I had no idea where to go with that, so I called Mike and asked if I could do some volunteer coaching that season.

“I've been there ever since.”

He said working with kids keeps football fun.

“It keeps you loose,” he said. “Plus, I do the different kind of stuff. I handle our website, do the film exchanges, things like that. Seeing kids develop into football players is rewarding.”

Coaching football consumes countless hours each fall. While players make headlines and head coaches provide a voice for the team, assistants are dedicated workers behind the scenes.

Degraff ruptured his Achilles' tendon in the booth at Slippery Rock University in 2011 during Grove City's win over Cathedreal Prep the District 10 championship game.

He was released from the hospital after surgery on Friday before a PIAA quarterfinal against Montour, which the Eagles lost 25-21 after holding a 21-0 halftime advantage.

“There was a lot of pain when the meds wore off,” Degraaf joked. “It seemed like the more pain I had the worse we played.”

Degraff isn't the only one to head from the football field to the hospital.

Markle developed a blood clot in his shoulder during practice, which forced him to miss an important game for the Gremlins against Central Mountain roughly 10 years ago.

“I was on the phone to the press box for the play-by-play,” said Markle. “I tried to get the doctor to take me to the game and sit in the press box with me and watch the game, but he wouldn't do it.”

Savannah was coaching in a road game at Connellsville years back while his wife was due to deliver their baby. She gave birth to the child the next day.

“The pictures we have at the hospital, I still have my coaching gear on,” Savannah said, laughing. “I guess we do put in long hours.”

Sherwin once missed a week for a trip to Russia during the process to adopt his son. As soon as he returned, he was thrown back into action against Karns City's biggest rival. Conto gave Sherwin a crash course on the Moniteau defense on the way to the game.

“I ended up calling the plays and we ended up winning that game against Moniteau,” said Sherwin.

Dillner parlayed his commitment into theraputic reward.

He remained on the Mars staff last season despite his battle with pancreatic cancer, which is now in remission.

“As an assistant, you grow closer with the kids. The kids and the coaches helped get me through it all,” said Dillner. “I knew if I showed up every day, not only would I get to help the kids, but there would be some laughs. It was a blessing.

“The camaraderie amongst the coaches ... we're like brothers.”

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