Nate Armella’s commute is going to have to change. So will his responsibilities on Friday nights in the fall.
Armella officially became the new head varsity football coach at Randolph Central School earlier this month after the district board of education approved his hiring. Armella succeeds Brent Brown, who is retiring after 36 years as a teacher, 13 as varsity football coach and many more as an assistant before 2013.
Armella has been Brown’s right-hand man since the latter replaced legendary coach Pat Slater. The two drive to and from work together from Jamestown to Randolph and back every day. They coach football together, Armella as Brown’s defensive coordinator for the last 13 years. They spend weekends breaking down film.
“It’s a mix of emotions. I’ve been here 18 years,” Armella said. “Pat welcomed me into the program and then as soon as I got here, Brownie immediately took me under his wing because he knew at some point Pat was going to be done coaching and he would take over the program, so it was important to him to take me under his wing and teach me his defensive scheme.
“From the time I got here in ‘07, I spent every weekend in his basement breaking down game film and just going over X’s and O’s from that side of the ball. He really groomed me to take over the defense when he took over the program.”
At a time when small-school football numbers can rise and fall by the year, Armella said he’s learned from Brown to “work with what you’ve got.”
“He was just really good at getting kids to buy in and getting them to play whatever position we need them to play,” Armella said. “They might come in thinking they’re a quarterback and all of a sudden they’re a left guard or a left tackle because that’s where we need them. and not once did I ever hear a kid complain about that. They bought in, they knew that was what was going to help the team succeed and they were willing to do that.”
It’s hard to pull off a coaching transition better than the one the Cardinals had in 2013, when Brown took over for Slater, who had led the program since 1979. Randolph won a state championship in 2012, Slater’s swan song before retirement, then won two more in Brown’s first two years for a Class D three-peat.
Brown steps down with a career record of 78-38, two state titles and four Section 6 titles.
“Obviously, you’re talking just about 50 years of Randolph football where it’s been Pat Slater-Brent Brown,” Armella said. “So there’s some pressure there making sure you keep the program going, keep the consistency there. But also at the same time it’s exciting. I’ve worked hard for this, Brownie’s helped prepare me for this and I feel like I’m ready.”
For Brown, it was time to slow down. He’d been teaching for 36 years and coaching for 35.
“It’s just time to move on, do something else,” he said. “We’ve got a decent bunch right now coming through, so it’s a good time to pass it on to Nate. So I’m just gonna relax and play a little golf now, I think.”
Much of the coaching staff Brown has relied on is set to remain in place, including line coach Jeff Pagett, Chad Slade and Ike and Brennan Morrison, who are set to take over the defense while Armella switches from ‘D’ to offensive play-calling, just as Brown did in ‘13.
“Honestly this is the perfect time because there’s a lot of guys that are willing to jump in and then I can just be out and they’ll be good,” Brown said.
“It’s kind of the same thing (as 2013). I had been with Pat for however-many years, so Nate’s kind of in the same spot, so I expect us to keep right on going.”
Brown thinks Armella has “a pretty good gameplan” in taking over the program. And he’s confident his longtime defensive coordinator knows the time commitment involved in coaching at a high level.
“First and foremost the amount of time it takes to coach football,” Brown said. “Part of our success from way back was the amount of time. You’ve got to be prepared. You’ve got to break down film. You’ve got to spend your weekends … people don’t see that side of it, but it takes a lot of time and he is willing to put that time in and he has been ever since he came up with me. And that’s really the biggest part of it because he will be organized, he will be prepared, he’ll make sure his assistants are prepared and then in turn the kids are prepared. So that’s the biggest thing.”
Although he’s only a phone call away and happy to help, Brown is ready to step away and enjoy his time.
“It takes so much time. I’m going to enjoy having a little bit of time,” Brown said. “It seems like you’re always in a hurry when you’re coaching. You’ve got to get film broke down, you’ve got this meeting and practice and buses are gonna leave. It just seems like you’re in a hurry. And I will be happy to not be in a hurry for the first time in a long time. Certainly I’ll miss the Friday nights and all that stuff.”
