HS FOOTBALL: Former CFL player hired to coach N-W

Sports

July 7, 2009

By Nate Beutel The Niagara Gazette Tue Jul 07, 2009, 11:09 PM EDT

A former all-star north of the border will be looking to lead Niagara-Wheatfield toward the top of the Class AA North standings.

David Hack, a five-time Eastern Division all-star for the Hamilton Tiger Cats of the Canadian Football League, is the new varsity head football coach for the Falcons. He replaces veteran coach Al Pogel, who stepped down this past spring.

“We feel like he’s the best fit for our program,” athletics director Mark DiFilippo said Monday. “His background really speaks for itself. His playing and even coaching experience at Buff State are tough to find at this level.”

Hack could not be reached for comment Monday.

Hack, who spent last year on Buffalo State’s coaching staff working with the offensive line, will also teach physical education at N-W. The East Aurora resident has a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from the University of Maryland and a master’s degree in education from D’Youville College.

A native of Holland, N.Y., Hack was a three-year starter at Maryland before joining the Buffalo Bills practice squad in 1996. He then played nine seasons with the Tiger Cats, winning a Grey Cup in 1999.

After his playing career, Hack spent time as a coach at St. Francis High School and Erie Community College, while also lending a hand as a guest coach for both Hamilton and Toronto of the CFL. He is the founder and director of the “Be the Best” Football Camp as well.

“He has that demeanor about him that the kids are going to respect,” DiFilippo said. “All the coaches are on board and the kids should follow suit pretty quickly. I’m confident he’ll lead us in the right direction.”

DiFillippo said he and Hack are in the process of aligning the Falcons’ coaching staff for the fall, but all signs point to Jim Hagerty and Bill Jakobi staying on as varsity assistants.

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