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VARSITY FOOTBALL STAFF

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AARON SLOCUM

Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator

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PERSONAL

Hometown: Erie, Pa
College: Gannon University
Degree: Education

Profession: Teacher
Family:   Wife-Chandra

                 Son-Micah

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COACHING CAREER

Years Coaching: 20 (McDowell:  13)

2024 - current McDowell (Head Coach)

2012-2023:  McDowell (Assistant Coach)

2005-2011:  Cathedral Prep

2009-2011:  (Defensive Backs)

2005-2008:  (Wide Receivers/Defensive Backs)

 

PLAYING CAREER

Geneva

Football (Defensive Back)

 

BIO

Coach Aaron Slocum (McDowell '98) is entering his 16th season coaching high school football and his 8th consecutive season coaching for the Trojans.  As a player, Coach Slocum played for legendary McDowell Football Coach Ron Rudler and starred as both a Quarterback and a Defensive Back,  Aaron rushed and threw for a 1,000 yards his senior year at McDowell, something only a few QB’s have done in District 10 history. In his junior and senior seasons, the Trojans were undefeated and lost in the western finals. Coach Slocum is currently a Special Education Teacher for MTSD.

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JOHN FERRARO

Linebacker Coach

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PERSONAL

Hometown: Erie, Pa
Profession: Retired-Corrections Officer 2
Family: Wife-Nina
               Sons-Jordan, Christian, Dominic

COACHING CAREER

Years Coaching: 18 (McDowell: 9)

2014-current:  McDowell (assistant)

2005-2013:  Strong Vincent

2005 (freshman Defensive Coordinator )

2006 (freshman head coach, Offensive Coordinator)

2007-2013 (Varsity, Running Backs/Linebackers)

2014: McDowell

2014 (Assistant Defensive line )

2015 (Defensive line)

2016 (Defensive line, Punt team Coordinator)

2017 (Defensive line, Punt team Coordinator)                                                                                                           2018- (Linebackers, Punt team Coordinator)

 

BIO

Coach Ferraro began his High school coaching career at Strong Vincent HS. During his time with the Colonels the program experienced great success, playing in three Western finals and multiple District 10 titles. Coach Ferraro has coached in numerous all star games, most recently the 2015 North / South game acting as Defensive coordinator.  Since arriving at McDowell HS. Coach Ferraro has coached the defensive line and punt team coordinator . In 2018 coach Ferraro  assumed the duties of Linebackers coach and continues to coordinate the punt team. Coach Ferraro contributes experience, leadership and tireless work ethic to this staff of accomplished coaches. Note: Coach Ferraro was also a PIAA Football referee from 1999-2004.

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DAVE FRANK

Offensive Line

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PERSONAL

Hometown: Erie, Pa

College: Gannon University

Degree: Education

Profession: Teacher

Family:  Wife-Katie     

               Children-Evelyn, Charlie

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COACHING CAREER

Years Coaching: 23 (McDowell: 6th)

2018-current: McDowell (Running Backs)

2011-2017:      Seneca High School (Head Coach)

2008-2010: Fort Leboeuf High School (Offensive Line/ Defensive Line)

2007: Seneca High School (Offensive/Defensive Asst)

2005-2006: Hickory High School, NC (Defensive Line Coach)

2001-2004: Iroquois High School (Offensive/ Defensive Asst)

 

BIO

Coach Frank starts his 4th season at McDowell after spending seven years as the Head Coach and Offensive coordinator at Seneca High School.

He engineered the most potent offense in Seneca High school history averaging 39.0 points per game in 2017.

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The 2017 season also marked the first region football championship in school history.

Dave Frank concluded his stint at Seneca as the 2nd winningest coach in Seneca History (Randy Gunther).

Coach Frank was the head coach of the victorious 2017 NWPFCA North Team as well as the head coach of the winning county squad in the 76th Annual Save An Eye Game.

Notable performances for Trojan Running Backs under Coach Frank's tenure include Dom Ferraro's 5 rushing TDs against Erie High in 2018 and Elijah Lopez with a 238 yard effort against Cathedral Prep in 2019. 

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JUSTIN HALL

Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach

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PERSONAL

Hometown: Edinboro, Pa
Degree: Computer Science

Profession: Web Application Development – Millcreek School District

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COACHING CAREER

Years Coaching: 10 (McDowell:  10)

2014-current:  McDowell (Assistant Offensive Line Coach)

 

BIO

As a former player of the game, Coach Hall was an offensive lineman of the General McLane Lancers AAA State Championship team of 2006.  With the taste of a Hershey Championship, he is eager to get back to the Chocolate Empire with the McDowell Trojans. Coach Hall brings extensive knowledge and firsthand experiences on and off the field to the Trojan offensive linemen.

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CHRIS SPOONER

Defensive Line Coach

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PERSONAL

Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
College: BS, Edinboro

  MS, Mercyhurst

Degree: Education

Profession: Teacher / Coach
Family:  Wife-Amy 

                Children-Ellie and Ben

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COACHING CAREER

Years Coaching: 19 (McDowell: 6)

2020-current:  McDowell (Co-DC, Defensive Line, KOK)

2017 McDowell (RB’s, KOK)

2015-16 Strong Vincent (Head Coach)

2012-14 Strong Vincent (Defensive Coordinator)

2009-11 McDowell (Varsity D-Line, JV O-line/D-line)

2005-08 Strong Vincent (Varsity D-Line, Recruiting)

 

PLAYING CAREER

Walsh University –

Football - Defensive End, 2-Year Captain, All Conference,  2 x Executioners Club

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BIO

Coach Spooner is in his 4th year back at McDowell after being the Head Coach at Strong Vincent HS in the programs final two years.  Coach Spooner has coached for many years in the Erie area and has coached on many strong playoff teams both in the WPIAL and D-10.  Coach Spooner has helped lead teams as far as the Quad A Western Finals multiple times and has coached at the highest level of PA football for many years.  He has vast experience as an all-around coach but is most notable for his defense and recruiting. From a recruiting stand point Coach Spooner has helped close to 100 student athletes from all local programs get into college.  He has helped student athletes get athletic scholarships and grants at all levels (D3, D2, JUCO), including multiple Division 1 Athletes at RB, OL, DL, WR, DB. Notable athlete coached James Conner, under Coach Spooner’s tutelage James became McDowell’s All-Time single season sack leader (12) in only 5 games.

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SHAWN CARLSON

Defensive Line Coach/JV Defensive Coordinator​

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PERSONAL

Hometown: Erie, PA

High School:  Strong Vincent

College:  Yale

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COACHING CAREER 

McDowell - (6th year)

Strong Vincent 2 years

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BIO

Shawn Carlson has coached at all levels. Started coaching and 1998 in the city youth league. Has continued to coach now for over 20 yrs at freshman, JV, and Varsity levels. Shawn is the proud father of McDowell graduate Jared Carlson.

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NATE DAVISON

Passing Game Coordinator/QB Coach/

JV Head Coach

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PERSONAL

Hometown: Erie, PA

High School:  McDowell

College:  Gannon University

Degree:  Special Education

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COACHING CAREER 

Years Coaching:  4 (McDowell: 4)

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PLAYING CAREER

McDowell High School 2015-2018

Gannon University 2019-2020
 

BIO

2017 All District Wide Receiver

2017 All Western PA Wide Receiver

2017 All Region Wide Receiver

2017 6A All State Wide Receiver

2017 Single season reception record

2017 Single game receptions, yards, and  touchdowns record holder

2017 Second all time career receptions 

2017 Second all time career yards

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Jacon Timpano

Running Backs

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PERSONAL

Hometown: 

High School:  

College:  

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COACHING CAREER 

Years Coaching: 

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PLAYING CAREER

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BIO

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Zachary Edmiston

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends/JV Coach

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PERSONAL

Hometown: 

High School:  

College:  

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COACHING CAREER 

Years Coaching: 

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PLAYING CAREER

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BIO

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Isaac Munson

Defensive Backs/JV Coach

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PERSONAL

Hometown: 

High School:  

College:  

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COACHING CAREER 

Years Coaching: 

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PLAYING CAREER

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BIO

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