The following is from the Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills and ADPRO Sports are proud to once again partner to recognize some of the best coaches that Western New York has to offer through the 2021 High School Football Coach of the Week Program.
The Bills and ADPRO Sports will be awarding varsity head coaches with the Coach of the Week Award to highlight not only their team’s achievements on the field, but also some of the work they are doing off the field in their communities. We will announce winners from the Buffalo and Rochester Regions over the course of 11 weeks, with both regions Coach of the Year being named at halftime of the Bills vs Falcons game on Jan. 2, 2022 at Highmark Stadium.
Each Coach of the Week winner will receive an $1,000 grant from the Buffalo Bills and ADPRO Sports. The respective Coach of the Year winners will also receive an additional $1,000 for their programs.
Winners will be selected by a panel of local high school football experts based on nominations which include information on the coach’s commitment to their community and school, team academic performance, team off-the-field community service, coach/team support of youth football in their community, and health and safety protocols for their players.
Buffalo Region Coach of the Week #10
Western New York Maritime Charter/Health Sciences football coach Tyree Parker has been named the Week 10 Buffalo Bills and ADPRO Sports Buffalo Region Coach of the Week following his Falcons’ 30-0 win over West Seneca East in the Section VI Class B semifinals.
The result sets up WNY Maritime with a rematch of the sectional title game from the 2021 fall II season against Iroquois, as the Falcons stymied Iroquois with four plays inside the five and a goal line score of their own to earn the victory. With a win over Iroquois on Nov. 13, Maritime could claim its third consecutive Section VI championship.
After opening the season with back-to-back losses to Class A finalist Bennett and two-time defending Monsignor Martin champion Canisius, the Falcons have rattled off eight-straight wins.
Game Highlights
- The Falcons defense was the catalyst, posting its second-straight shutout and third overall on the season. David Wright led the ‘D’ with a team-best 10 tackles, and he got help from Nyjuan Littlejohn (7 tackles, interception), Braylen Boyd (7 tackles), Zyke Taylor (4 tackles, INT) and Marques Miller (3 tackles, INT).
- Maritime scored touchdowns the first two times it snapped the ball. First, RB Damien Littleton raced for an 82-yard sprint to paydirt, before his second carry of the night — a 50-yard TD tote. The senior tailback, who added a third score later in the action, was the man of the hour, as he thrashed his way for a career-high 327 rushing yards. Littleton is now one of only four players in WNY this season to total 1,000-plus rushing yards, 10-plus rushing TDs and over 10 yards per carry (1,157 yards, 13 TDs, 10.7 YPC).
- Speaking of the running game, the Falcons stuck to their guns and their option attack, totaling 503 yards and four TDs all on the ground. The team’s second-leading rusher was Jameer Thomas (95 yards), followed by Boyd (40 yards) and Addison Copeland (35 yards, 1 TD).
- Future Falcon players may break the records set by this group, but no one can match Copeland, Wright, Boyd, Taylor and Malik Bryant as the program’s first-ever four-year players after the combined squad began play in 2018.
Coach’s Profile
- Parker graduated from Burgard Vocational High School in 1994 before earning an associates degree from Alfred State College in 1997. He played defensive back at FCS Charleston Southern University in 1998 and one season at Buffalo State as well in 2002. During that 2002 campaign, he led all Division III players in total tackles.
- Parker has had an extensive coaching career in WNY; he was an assistant defensive coordinator at Riverside in 2010, then became defensive back coach at Bennett from 2011-13. Next up was his time as defensive coordinator at Bishop Timon St. Jude in 2014 and 2015.
- Parker became head coach for the Falcons in 2018, as the program played its inaugural season as a combined squad. Over that span, he’s compiled a 25-5 record. His deepest playoff run thus far came in 2019, when the Falcons won sectionals and downed Livonia for the Far West Regional title.
- Also serving a prior stint as assistant varsity basketball coach at Middle Early College from 2010-14, Parker is now the varsity basketball coach at Health Sciences Charter School and has been on that post since 2015. Parker is also Health Sciences’ athletic director.
In the Community
Parker has worked with a wide range of youth in the Upstate New York Region, particularly in the WNY area providing a variety of developmental opportunities to the youth in the community. Many of which address specific needs necessary for the development of the student-athlete. That includes providing opportunities through his work with the Corey Graham Elite Sports Academy, with AAU travel basketball, track & field, a gang prevention program, entrepreneurship and mentoring programs as well.
Academic Achievements
Over the last three years, the Maritime football team has had an 100% graduation rate with an average GPA of 3.2 overall.
Health & Safety
Parker and the Falcons staff has been adamant in protecting against the spread of COVID-19. That includes physical distancing while outdoors, ensuring players and coaches are wearing masks at all times and that football equipment is cleaned and sanitized each day.
Youth Football Connection
As mentioned before with his work at Corey Graham Elite Sports Academy, Parker is the director of the academy, which offers youth football with the CG Elite Eagles.
Coach’s Family
Tyree is the son of Bernadine Caesar and Gregory Parker. He has two children of his own; his daughters, Tyresha and Nevaeh.
Rochester Region Coach of the Week #10
University Prep’s Isiah Young is the Week 10 Buffalo Bills and ADPRO Sports Rochester Region Coach of the Week after his Griffins took a 40-8 victory over Brighton in the final matchup of the Class A1 bracket of the Section V playoffs.
U-Prep, who is now 9-1, was able to avenge its lone loss of the season — a 21-19 defeat at the hands of the Bruins on Sept. 10.
Game Highlights
- Griffins QB Clyde Davis Jr. had a 6-for-9 passing night that was accentuated by a touchdown strike to WR Mark McClary. The senior wideout had an all-purpose game offensively, scoring a receiving and rushing TD, as well as totaling 84 yards from scrimmage (44 receiving, 40 rushing).
- RB Christopher Jean toted the pill to the tune of 76 yards on 10.9 yards per carry to go along with his rushing score. Todd Gilliam also had a big night, adding 45 yards and another rush TD, but his biggest play of the game was an 85-yard kickoff return to the house to start the game.
- The Griffins were stout defensively, holding the Bruins to a season-low point total. U-Prep got three turnovers in the game with interceptions coming from DB Laron Davis and OLB RaeJoughn Yeomas, as well as a fumble recovery from Isaiah Moonschein. Yeomas and Moonschein each finished with six total tackles, while the latter added a sack.
- Jean and LB Dekhari Carter tied for a team-high seven stops, including 3.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble for Carter.
- U-Prep will be seeking its first sectional title in football with its Nov. 12 matchup against Webster Schroeder.
Coach’s Profile
- Coach Young played high school football in Groton in Section IV and was named to the All-Region team. He received his bachelor’s degree from Alfred University in 2015 and was next granted his master’s degree at St. John Fisher College (2018). He was a team captain, All-American and two-time Empire 8 All-Conference TE with the Saxons.
- Young is in his third year coaching at U-Prep, with one year as offensive coordinator in 2019. Since taking over as head coach, Young has posted a 14-2 record. He helped bring U-Prep to its first Class B semifinal appearance as OC in ’19. Young’s first season as HC saw the Griffins finish with a 5-1 record (Spring 2021).
- Young has also spent the last four years working at U-Prep as a U.S. history teacher.
In the Community
Young has worked with NYS Elite Athletics coaching youth football camps with Wayne head coach and fellow Coach of the Week selection Dave Marean. He also volunteers as a coach with former Buffalo Bills WR Moe Jackson at Moe Jackson’s Speed and Football School.
Academic Achievements
Here in this fall 2021 season, the Griffins have their highest overall team GPA all-time in program history, including several players touting 4.0 GPAs. Young has been able to set this mark by instituting an athletic study hall two times a week after practices.
Health & Safety
Young has been able to develop a strong level of health & safety within U-Prep’s program with the implementation of a year-round strength & conditioning program.
Youth Football Connection
Young and the Griffins staff has maintained a great relationship with the Flower City Panthers youth organization, as well as other youth coaches and programs in the Greater Rochester Region.
Coach’s Family
Young has a fiancé, Kayli Westervelt, and one daughter, Gemma Marie Young. The Griffins’ head man also serves on staff with his brother and defensive coordinator, Damian Young.
