Rochester Region (Section V) Coach Mike Wilkinson – Head Coach at Hornell High School
Hornell head coach Mike Wilkinson was named the Rochester region Coach of the Year. He is credited with building an incredible culture and excitement around the sport in the Hornell community.
“In athletics, you need to work to earn the things that you achieve,” explained Wilkinson. “I believe in instilling a passion and love for the sport in my athletes, while at the same time encouraging them to become a better version of themselves.”
Wilkinson’s favorite memory is the first game of their inaugural season and seeing the girls rewarded for their hard work and dedication throughout the winter. Hornell not only earned the victory but were supported by the community and fans who attended.
Syracuse Region (Section III) Coach Ryan Aldrich – Head Coach at Fayetteville-Manlius High School
Fayetteville-Manlius head coach Ryan Aldrich was named the Syracuse region Coach of the Year and Fayetteville-Manlius won the Class B sectional title
Coach Aldrich has been a teacher at Fayetteville-Manlius High School for 10 years. In that time, he has been an assistant coach for tackle football for seven years, a modified wrestling coach for two years and started the flag football program in 2025, where he has been the head coach for the past two seasons.
“My coaching philosophy is to build a fast, aggressive, and resilient flag football program,” said Aldrich. “I emphasize teamwork and trust, skill development, a relentless pursuit of excellence on and off the field, playing fast with an aggressive mindset on both sides of the ball, and a positive, competitive culture that athletes can carry into all areas of life.”
The Fayetteville-Manlius Flag Football team helped local food pantries and raised awareness about breast cancer to further support their team motto, “leaving a legacy.”
Coach Aldrich’s favorite flag football memory is winning the Section III Championship in the team’s inaugural year.