Joe Pesci

Varsity Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks

 

Coach Pesci is entering his 6th season as the Cougars Head Coach. In 2018, Pesci lead the Cougars to their first District Playoff win in school history with a 25-14 win over Ortonville Brandon, and followed up with a second District Playoff win in 2020 with a 41-0 shutout of Garden City. 

Coach Pesci has been a high school football coach for the past 21 years at all three levels. He has been an assistant coach on three State Championship teams at Harrison, where he was the Freshmen Head Coach (1998-2000). He then helped establish a winning and successful program at Farmington High, where he served as the Offensive Coordinator and JV Head Coach from 2002-2010. Prior to becoming the Head Coach at East, he was the Head JV Coach at Harrison High School from 2011-2014, where he enjoyed two undefeated seasons and a 21 game winning streak. He also assisted the varsity program with offensive game planning and play calling during that time. In 2014 Harrison won a District and Regional Title before losing in the State Semifinals. As a player, he played the quarterback position at Harrison High School, where he won a state championship. Pesci then went on and played at Albion College where he received 4 varsity letters and was a member of three League Championships and a National Championship team. Coach Pesci has taught physical education in the Farmington Public Schools for the past 16 years. He resides in South Lyon with his wife Cori and his two children, Emelia and Anthony.

Chad Stuckey

Varsity Offensive Line, Running Backs

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Coach Stuckey is entering his sixth season as the Varsity Offensive Line Coach. He has 37 years of experience with football, 12 years playing and 25 years coaching.  After playing both youth and high school football in his hometown of Louisville, Ohio, coach Stuckey continued playing at The College of Wooster (Ohio). During his time at Wooster, he was a four year starter, elected team captain, and earned an all-conference selection his senior year.  He graduated in 1996 with a BA in Mathematics. Upon graduation, he spent five years in Ohio teaching and coaching. He moved to Michigan in 2001 and became employed by the Birmingham Public School District. He is in his 20th year teaching at Groves HS, where he coached for Brendan Flaherty from 2001-2014.  Coach Stuckey resides in South Lyon with his wife, Kelly, and two children, Owen and Venna. Be EAST!

Jason Wagner

Varsity Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers

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Coach Wagner is a 1990 graduate of Mendon High School where he won a State Championship in Football as a Senior. He continued his playing career at Kalamazoo College earning 4 Varsity letters and receiving  All-Conference honors as a Wide Receiver during his Junior and Senior seasons. He has worked as a Commodities Trader at the Chicago Board of Trade and more recently as an AP Economics Teacher at Birmingham Groves High School for the past 16 years. While at Groves he has coached Freshman Basketball and Football, as well as, serving as a Varsity Assistant in both Basketball and Football. As a part of the Groves Varsity football team (2015 & 2016), his teams have gone 21-3 with two league championships, District and Regional Championships and a State Semifinal Appearance. Coach Wagner is in his 4th season at South Lyon East. He resides in Brighton, MI with his wife, Betsy and their two children, Nate and Elise.

Mike Neibauer

Varsity Defensive Line

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Coach Neibauer is a 1983 graduate of Chelsea High School where he received Class B All State Honors as a lineman his Senior year and helped lead his team to two Conference Championships.  Upon graduation, he continued his football career at Ohio Northern University as a defensive lineman, earning 3 Varsity letters.  He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering in 1987 and is a Project Manager for Stante Excavating, where he has worked for the past 25 years.  He has served as a youth baseball and football coach in Brighton and for the Birmingham Patriots alongside Coach Wagner. Coach Neibauer worked at Stante Excavating for 28 years. Coach Neibauer is in his 4th year at EAST and resides in Farmington Hills, Michigan with his wife, Donna.  Their daughter, Lauren is a graduate of the University of Alabama with a Masters in Sports Management, was a Captain on the Equestrian Team and is now the Head Coach of the University of Alabama Equestrian Team.  Their son, Nick is a Junior at Bowling Green State University studying business and under scholarship to play baseball.

Kyle Docken

Varsity Defensive Line, JV Head Coach

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Coach Docken is entering his 4th season as the Junior Varsity Head Coach at East. He has 14 years of football experience. 9 years of playing experience and 5 years coaching. Coach Docken played youth and high school football in New Lothrop, Michigan, a Flint area powerhouse which holds one of the top win/loss records in the state of Michigan since 2010(98-10). Coach Docken went to college at Saginaw Valley State University and graduated in 2017 with a degree in Social Studies and Physical Education. Coach Docken was the Junior Varsity Defensive Coordinator at New Lothrop in 2015 and 2016 under Coach Clint Galvas, before joining the staff at East. Coach Docken currently teaches in South Lyon at both High School’s and Bartlett Elementary teaching Physical Education. He resides in Howell, MI with his wife Nicole.

Christian Vorias

Varsity Defensive Backs, JV Defensive Coordinator

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Coach Vorias graduated from Brighton High School in the class of 2012, where he also was the JV defensive coordinator from 2015-2018 prior to coaching at East. He is entering his second season with South Lyon East and proud to be calling the JV defense this season in addition to his Varsity role. Christian was a captain and was a 2 year starter playing both ways at Brighton. After high school he attended Grand Valley State and graduated in 2019 with a major in sport management and a minor in general business. He used this degree to obtain employment at the Legacy Center, a large sport facility in his hometown of Brighton. Here he is an operations worker and an event manager while coaching football as well. Coach Vorias resides in Howell with his father Tony Vorias. As a young coach he looks forward to his future with this knowledgeable staff as he already feels he has learned a lot already.

Cody Peterman

Varsity Running Backs, JV Offensive Coordinator

 

Alax Barnes

Varsity Outside Linebackers, JV Wide Receivers/Special Teams Coordinator

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Coach Barnes, a graduate of South Lyon High School in 2009 is entering his 2nd season as a member of the South Lyon East coaching staff. He played football from Panthers through High School, upon graduation he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served for 4 years in Japan, California, and Afghanistan. While in California he was a part of the Marine Corps base football league competing against other bases and branches. After his time in the USMC he went into private security contracting and joined the Army Reserves until 2019 when he became a full time student at Madonna University seeking a Bachelor's Degree in Emergency Management. Coach Barnes looks forward to being able to mentor and helping the young players become better football players and better people, as well as help to be a positive role model for the players and community. Coach Barnes lives in Westland MI, with his wife.

 

Ed Donovan

Freshman Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator

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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

Freshman Defensive Coordinator

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Coach LaPerna has been coaching youth football for 14 years and is a 1996 graduate of South Lyon High School. This is his 2nd 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 sophomore Jayden and Freshman Kellen.

 

Aaron Bush

Freshman Offensive/Defensive Line

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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

Freshman Wide Receivers/Defensive Backs

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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

Freshman Offensive Assistant

 

 

Ken Smoot

Athletic Trainer

 

 

 

Justin Wagoner

Director of Football Operations

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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 3rd 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.