What’s Next for Milford Football?

Milford’s Director of Athletics Jim Marszalek announced last week via email that a search committee will be formed for a new head football coach for Milford High School after the resignation of MHS Teacher Tim Gough.

Gough’s decision was a relatively easy one with the news of his wife being pregnant with his first son, which will also make for his fourth child. Gough lives in Jackson, Mich. and has to drive two hours to work every day and with the new baby on the way, it’s just not practical.

“It’s obviously going to be different without Gough next year, but how much different depends on who we have as our head coach,” said junior football player Noah Poser.

The challenge is having to basically start new on offense and defense, both in terms of schemes and personnel. Almost all of the skill position contributors from the past season are graduating, on both offense and defense. With a new coach coming in, he won’t know the type of athletes he has and where to put the ones he does have in the right position.

“It’s always rough losing a coach, especially the head coach! It’s hard to adjust to another coach’s playbook after learning the previous coach’s scheme for the past three years,” said current defensive coordinator and friend of Gough, Spenser Adams.

The search for a new head coach is underway. Its anticipated that with Milford competing in Division II football and with the Mavericks also moving conferences that there is a lot of promise for the Mavs in the years to come, which means there will more than likely be a lot of coaching applications sent for the job. That will make the decision that much harder..

Adams also said, “ Man I’d love the job! I’ve been here with Gough from the beginning and it would be a much easier transition for the players next year. But now that the job is up for grabs there will be many people applying for the job, but I feel as though my resume speaks for itself! I have played and started at the college level, also continuing on to coach at college as well.”

The whole community of Milford is grateful for Gough’s sacrifice over the past three years. The countless hours of reviewing film and sleepless nights after tough losses are all tremendously valued and appreciated. He will be missed greatly by all of his former players and by his students.

“ It’s very sad to see him go, but I know that won’t stop the football program from progressing and getting better for the future season,” Senior defensive end and 3-year varsity starter Nick Beether said.

As reported by The Milford Times, “We would like to have someone that is pretty local or knows the Milford community or is willing to get to understand the community itself,” Marszalek said. “That’s one of our unique aspects for our area — or one of our strong suits — is how much our community supports our athletic teams. And then if at all possible, obviously we’d like to have someone in education or has a degree in education that we can maybe have a teaching position go with that. We don’t know if that’s available.”