J-M tabs Giorgi as football coach
Looking for continuity for its high school football program, the Jefferson-Morgan School Board Tuesday night voted unanimously to hire assistant coach Aaron Giorgi to replace Liam Ryan.
Ryan, who led the Rockets to a 15-13 record in three seasons, including a 4-5 mark in 2014, resigned in November to spend more time with his family. He replaced longtime coach Jan Haiden.
“He’s been there,” said Jefferson-Morgan athletic director Scot Moore of Giorgi. “He kind of ran the offense in the last half of the season and did a nice job. We had some candidates but we decided he was the guy.”
Giorgi, a graduate of Waynesburg University where he played running back, was on Ryan’s staff all three years. He joined the Rockets after spending five seasons as an assistant at Carmichaels.
Giorgi, 30, is a math teacher at Carmichaels.
“I feel like Carmichaels is my place of work, while Jefferson-Morgan is my passion,” said Giorgi. “I love coaching football.”
Giorgi takes over a progam that last won the Tri-County South in 2006.
He plans on changing that.
“We have a good nucleus coming back, four linemen, two running backs, a quarterback that got some experience and some kids who are going to be ready to compete for jobs,” Giorgi said. “I just want to win. Everybody says that when they take over as a head coach, and it’s cliche’, but we want to win and win a conference championship.”
Giorgi said he will keep the staff intact, something he said will make the transition seamless.
“Liam encouraged me to apply and the community really rallied behind me,” Giorgi said. “I definitely think the kids will have an easy time with the transition. I’m keeping the same coaching staff. They’ve got a wealth of experience and the kids know what they want out of them.