VARSITY HEAD COACH
Jacob Topp
Varsity Head Coach
Jacob Topp is beginning his first season as Head Football Coach at South Lyon East in the fall of 2021. Topp is joining the Cougars from Detroit Country Day School, where was an assistant football coach, basketball coach, and history teacher. In his 5 years at Country Day, Topp was part of a staff 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.
Prior to Detroit Country Day, Topp coached At Marian University. At Marian University, he helped the Knights to a 6-5 record, and coached an AFCA NAIA All-American honoree, in addition to 2 more MSFA all-conference honorees. Prior to Marian University, Topp spent a season as an assistant coach with Aurora University in Illinois. In one season with Aurora, Topp served as the offensive line and tight ends coach as well as the director of football operations. He guided a pair of student-athletes to first team all-conference honors and guided one offensive lineman to all-north region second team honors. His offensive line led NCAA Division III in sacks allowed as the team gave up just 3 sacks in 10 games during a 5-5 season in 2012. His offensive line also had the highest yards per carry average in a decade at Aurora with 4.6 yards per carry in 2012.
Before taking the job at Aurora, Topp served a season as an assistant coach at Wartburg College. In 2011, he served as an assistant coach for the defensive line and was an assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Knights. He assisted with a team that was ranked first in scoring defense in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and ranked second in sacks per game. Topp also saw two of his athletes earn All-IIAC honors, one of whom earned third team all-american honors.
Prior to Wartburg, Topp was an assistant coach for the offensive line with Minnesota State-Moorhead in 2010. He began his coaching career with NCAA Division II powerhouse Grand Valley State University where he was a graduate assistant working with the offense. GVSU was the GLIAC champion and the NCAA Division II national runner-up in 2009.
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.
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.
Kyle Docken
Varsity Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers
Coach Docken is entering his 5th season coaching with the Cougars. The previous 4 years he has worked as the Junior Varsity Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator as well as assisting the Varsity Defensive Line. Coach Docken is very excited for the opportunity to step up to the Varsity Coaching staff and bring a steady dose of high energy to the defense.
Before arriving at South Lyon East, Coach Docken was the JV Defensive Coordinator at New Lothrop High School in 2015 and 2016. Working under Varsity Head Coach, Clint Galvas, he assisted the Varsity Defensive Coordinator to establish a powerhouse which brought the school back to back District Titles and 1 Regional Title. Before coaching football, Coach Docken coached baseball at New Lothrop High School from 2012-2014 at the Junior Varsity Level. Coach Docken currently serves as the South Lyon East Track and Field Strength and Conditioning Coach.
Coach Docken played youth and high school football in New Lothrop, Michigan, a Flint area powerhouse who has won 2 of the last 3 Division 7 State Titles. Graduating from New Lothrop in 2009, Coach Docken was a 1st Team All-Conference Defensive Linemen and 1st Team All-Conference Infielder on the baseball team. Post high school,Coach Docken went to college at Delta College for a few years while working and coaching and finally ended up at Saginaw Valley State University and graduated in 2017 with a degree in Social Studies and Physical Education.
Coach Docken currently teaches Physical Education and Health in the South Lyon Community Schools District at both South Lyon East High School and South Lyon High School, as well as Kent Lake Elementary and Hardy Elementary. He resides in Howell, MI with his wife Nikki.
Ed Donovan
Junior Varsity Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator
Coach Donovan enters his second year at South Lyon East. After spending last season as an assistant coach with the Varsity Team, Coach Donovan takes over as the Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator of the South Lyon East Freshman Team. Coach Donovan has spent 12 years coaching various levels of youth football while living in Chicago and Michigan. Coach Donovan graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1990 and has a B.A. in criminal justice and community health. Coach Donovan lives in South Lyon, Michigan, with his two children Kailtyn and Tommy. Kailtyn currently attends Illinois State University, where she is a student athlete, who is studying nursing and competing on the Illinois State Women’s Gymnastics Team. Tommy is a high school Sophomore who plays multiple sports.
Jason LaPerna
JV Defensive Coordinator
Coach LaPerna has been coaching youth football for 15 years and is a 1996 graduate of South Lyon High School. This is his 3rd 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 Livingston County Junior 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. Coach LaPerna has two children in the East Football program including incoming Junior Jayden and Sophomore Kellen.
Aaron Bush
JV Offensive/Defensive Line
Coach Bush is entering his 6th season as part of the East Football Staff. This past year, he joined the coaching staff on the East Varsity Football Team, assisting with the Offensive Line. Prior to that, Coach Bush coordinated film & Hudl for all Varsity football games. With his eight years of experience coaching multiple sports, including football, baseball, softball and basketball at the youth level, Coach Bush has a drive to connect with the athletes, as well as maximize their growth potential. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 2005, with a BA in Business Administration. He is now entering his 17 year with Ford Motor Company. Coach Bush lives in South Lyon with his wife, Jen, and two children, Brady and Sarah.
Scott Peterson
JV Wide Receivers/Defensive Backs
Coach Peterson has 30 years of coaching experience including 4 years in the South Lyon East Baseball program where he currently serves as the Associate Program Director and Assistant Coach for the Varsity team. He is a graduate of Northville High School and was a varsity letterman in baseball at Wayne State University where he graduated with a degree in Finance. Scott also earned a Masters Degree in Theology from Moody Theological Seminary. Scott is currently a national sales manager for a manufacturing company and lives in Northville with his wife, Shannon, and their two sons, Chase and Tyler.
Tyler Peterson
JV Offensive Assistant
Justin Wagoner
Director of Football Operations
Coach Wagoner graduated from Brentwood School in the United Kingdom in 2010. He 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. He is now in his 4th season with South Lyon East, two years as a JV/Freshman assistant, and now in the role of Director of Football Operations. He is also a Special Education Co-Teacher in Algebra 1, US History, and World Studies at South Lyon East.
Ken Smoot
Athletic Trainer
2021 Coaching Staff
