Jacob Topp
Varsity Head Coach
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Jacob Topp began his first season as Head Football Coach at South Lyon East High School in the fall of 2021. The last 4 seasons have been the most successful in school history. In 2022, the Cougars set school records for wins in a season, points scored in a season, and points per game. In 2024, the Cougars recorded the 2nd most wins in a season in school history, and the 2nd most points per game. Over the last 4 seasons, the Cougars have made the playoffs 3 times, after making the playoffs only 3 times previously in school history. Further, the Cougars have beaten their rivals, South Lyon High School, the last 3 years in a row - 2022, 2023, and 2024 - after being 1-13 against them previously.
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Topp joined the Cougars from Detroit Country Day School. In his 5 years at Country Day, Topp was part of a sta that made 3 state championship appearances in 2016, 2019, & 2020-2021. Detroit Country Day won the Division 4 state football championship in 2020-2021. Topp primarily worked with the varsity offensive and defensive lines. He coached two 2x all-state lineman, in addition to numerous all-region and all-metro award winners.
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Prior to Detroit Country Day, Topp coached in the collegiate ranks at Marian University, Aurora University, Wartburg College, Minnesota State University Moorhead, and his alma mater of Grand Valley State University. These schools represent some of the best programs in the nation in their respective divisions of NCAA Division 2, NAIA, and NCAA Division 3. Topp coached numerous all-conference, all-region, and all-American student-athletes. In 2012, Topp’s offensive line at Aurora University led the nation in sacks allowed, giving up 3 sacks over the course of 10 games. He was also part of the team that led GVSU to their most recent title game appearance in 2009.
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Topp was a four-year letter winner and started 23 games at Grand Valley State University where he was part of two national championship teams in 2005 and 2006, and a record setting 40-game win streak. During his time at GVSU, the Lakers won four conference titles and Topp earned all-conference honors as a senior. He was also a two-time Academic All-GLIAC honoree.
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Topp graduated from Grand Valley State University in 2008 with a degree in history and political science. He earned his Masters degree in education from the University of Michigan in 2016.
Topp resides in Livonia with his wife, Alison and their son, Cade.
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VARSITY HEAD COACH
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Mark Nowicki
Varsity Defensive Coordinator, Defensive Backs Coach
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Mark Nowicki will begin his fourth year as the defensive back coach/ defensive coordinator. Coach Nowicki has over 20 years of experience coaching and has worked in bowl games as well as conference, district, and regional championship games. Under Coach Nowicki’s tutelage, East defensive backs have been awarded a number of accolades including first team all-conference, first team all-state, and playing college football in the Big Ten Conference.
Prior to joining the Cougars staff, Nowicki served as the tight ends coach at Wayne State University for two seasons.
Previously, Coach Nowicki joined the Wayne State football staff in February of 2020 and served as the tight ends coach again in 2021. While at Wayne State he guided tight end Nick Poterack to First Team All-GLIAC honors in 2021. In addition, two student-athletes (Dayton Keller and Nick Poterack) earned GLIAC All-Academic honors for maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
Nowicki joined the Warriors after serving as a defensive analyst at Eastern Michigan during the 2019 campaign, which saw the Eagles win six regular-season contests and play Pittsburgh in the Quick Lane Bowl. EMU also recorded a 34-31 triumph at the University of Illinois.
The 11 years (2008-2018) prior to working in Ypsilanti, Nowicki was the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Northville High School. He spent the first seven years (2001-07) of his high school coaching career as the co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at South Lyon High School. During his years as a high school coach, the two schools combined for 13 playoff appearances, six division championships, and three conference championships, along with one district and one regional title.
Nowicki began his coaching career as a student assistant at Hillsdale College, his alma mater, working with the safeties in 2000.
He was a four-year member of the Charger football team (1996-99) and began his collegiate career under the legendary WSU and Hillsdale coach Dick Lowry. He graduated in 2000 with a degree in Health and Physical Education and a minor in Biology.
Nowicki was a 2020 inductee into the Quincy High School Hall of Fame
He and his wife Courtney have two sons, Jack and George, and a daughter Caroline.
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Alax Barnes
Varsity Running Backs and Defensive Backs
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Alax graduated from South Lyon High School in 2009 playing football all four years. After
Graduation he joined the United States Marine Corps serving for 4 years in active duty, in that
time he deployed to Afghanistan. While in the Marine Corps he was able to join the base
football team in Twentynine Palms CA traveling across the U.S. to face other military base
teams. After the Marine Corps he went into the Army reserves until finally ending his military
career in 2019.
His first coaching opportunity came in 2019 joining South Lyon East High School as an assistant
Freshman coach. He currently is coaching running backs and defensive backs on varsity.
Jason LaPerna
Varsity Inside Linebackers Coach
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Coach LaPerna has been coaching football for over 20 years and is a 1996 graduate of South Lyon High School. This is his 6th year with the Cougars after coaching for the South Lyon Panthers for 14 seasons dating back to 2003. In addition to coaching, he was President of the South Lyon Panthers for 8 years as well as President of the Kensington Valley Youth Football League for 6 years. During this time, Coach LaPerna helped coordinate improvements for a better, safer game with USA Football and other local coaching leaders.
Ryan Scriven
Varsity Defensive Line Coach
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Ryan Scriven has been the JV/Varsity Defensive Line Coach at South Lyon East since 2021. Coach Scriven has been part of the staff that has set program records for the most wins and 2nd most wins in a season at South Lyon East High School. He has coached 3 defensive linemen that have continued their careers playing football collegiately.
As a student-athlete, Coach Scriven was a part of the 2010 State Championship team at Farmington Hills Harrison High School. He is a 2-time graduate from Eastern Michigan University, with a Bachelor’s in Broadcasting and a Masters in Communications.
Chris Tanderys
Varsity Running Backs & JV Offensive Coordinator
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Chris Tanderys finished coaching his second season with the Cougars football team in 2024. He has previously coached football at Livonia Stevenson and Clarkston High School. He is also a physical education and health teacher at South Lyon East High and Centennial Middle School. He is a part of the South Lyon East Varsity Baseball program coaching staff as well.
Coach Tanderys is a graduate of Wayne State University where he played baseball. He was voted a team captain for the Warriors. Further, Coach Tanderys was the 2022-23 recipient of the NCAA Division 2 ADA Academic Achievement Award, and named to the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team.
Doug Neumayer
Varsity Offensive Line
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Doug Neumayer joined the South Lyon East coaching staff in 2024 as the offensive line coach.
Coach Neumayer was a two-year letter winner at Grand Valley State University and part of two national championship teams 05 & 06. He graduated from Grand Valley State University in 3 years with a degree in political science.
After graduating college Coach Neumayer joined the United States Marine Corps and served 4 years active duty. Neumayer was deployed to Afghanistan during 2010 and honorably discharged in 2013.
Coach Neumayer earned his MBA from Liberty University in 2015.
Coach Neumayer lives in South Lyon with his wife Stephanie, and two children - Jack and Vivienne.
Joe Rohrhoff
Varsity Quarterbacks
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Coach Rohrhoff is entering his second year at South Lyon East. This year marks his 19th in the coaching profession. Prior to his current role, he spent a significant period at Northville, where he spent most of his time coaching quarterbacks, but also worked as a position coach for wide receivers, and the offensive line. He also served as the offensive coordinator there for nine seasons.
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Beyond the field, Coach Rohrhoff serves as a teacher at Meads Mill Middle School in Northville. He lives in Northville with his wife, Jessica, and their two daughters.
Darrell Adkins
Varsity Wide Recievers
​Darrell Adkins joined the South Lyon East staff as Wide Receivers coach in 2024. Coach Adkins has been coaching high school football for nearly a decade, bringing energy, leadership, and a passion for developing young athletes. He’s also coached high school track for over five years, and middle school basketball for several seasons. A former football and rugby player, Coach Adkins believes in the power of hard work, discipline, and teamwork—values he emphasizes in every practice and game. Outside of coaching, he’s a proud local small business owner and a dedicated family man who enjoys traveling and outdoor adventures with his wife and their three kids. His deep connection to the community and love for giving back are at the heart of everything he does.
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Zachary Maghes
Varsity Defensive Backs
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2024 is Zachary's first year coaching at East. Previously he coached Football at Manchester High School and Ann Arbor Pioneer for 18 seasons, winning 9 Conference Championships and qualifying for 14 MHSAA Playoffs. He was also the head coach of Ann Arbor Pioneer Girls Lacrosse for 17 seasons, winning 11 Conference Championships, 8 Regional Championships and was twice State Runner Up. Zachary is currently the Physical Education Teacher at SLCS Salem Elementary. "Always believe in you and be kind to each other."
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Ed Donovan
Freshman Head Coach
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Coach Donovan enters his 7th year of coaching at South Lyon East High School. Coach
Donovan is the Head Coach of the South Lyon East freshman football team. Coach Donovan
has spent over 20 years coaching various levels of middle school and high school football.
Coach Donovan resides in South Lyon, Michigan.
Aaron Bush
Freshman Assistant Coach
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Aaron Bush is entering his 11th season as part of the East Football Staff. The past 6 years have been spent as an OL/DL coach across all three levels. Prior to that, Coach Bush coordinated film & Hudl for all Varsity football games. Coach Bush has spent almost 15 years coaching various levels of youth football, basketball and baseball.
Mike Welton
Freshman Assistant Coach
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Coach Welton has coached football for over 10 years and with East Football since 2020. He coaches quarterbacks and wide receivers. His passion is to develop student athletes that excel on the football field and in the classroom. Coach Welton lives in South Lyon with his wife Rita and two children Riley and Daniel. Daniel is part of the East Football 2025 class and Riley is a 2022 East graduate attending University of Alabama.
Jacob Jacovetti
Freshman Assistant Coach
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Justin Wagoner
Director of Football Operations
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Justin Wagoner is starting his eighth season at South Lyon East, two years as a JV/Freshman assistant, and has held the role of Director of Football Operations since. Coach Wagoner is also a Special Education at South Lyon East, while also supporting the athletic department with marketing, social media, and other projects. Coach Wagoner graduated from Central Michigan in 2017 with a degree in Special Education and History. During his time at Central Michigan, he was a part of the Video Operations staff for Central Michigan Athletics. He was the main assistant to the Football Video Coordinator. With Central Michigan Football, Coach Wagoner was a part of four bowl games and won the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl. Coach Wagoner is our coordinator for the Autism Acceptance Game which is in its fourth year. We have been able to raise over $8k for the South Lyon school community in the previous three years. He is also currently working on a Masters in Educational Leadership from Grand Valley State University and is scheduled to graduate next year. Coach Wagoner currently resides in Livonia, Michigan with his wife, Caitlin.
Ken Smoot
Athletic Trainer
2024 Coaching Staff
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