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EAST JORDAN - New East Jordan varsity football coach Bill Tisron knows what it takes to win. In fact, in 16 years of coaching football, he's only had one losing season.

"I contribute that (the success) to the kids and I getting along well," he said in an interview with the Citizen-Journal June 27.

For the past eight years, Tisron has served as the East Jordan JV coach. During that time, he's watched six head varsity coaches come and go.

When the job opened up once again this year, Tisron decided to apply.

"I wanted to bring some experience to the head coaching job," he said.

Experience is something that Tisron isn't lacking. This year will be his thirtieth as a coach and seventeenth season as a football coach, although it will be his first crack as a head coach at the varsity level.

Another thing that prompted Tisron to apply is that he thinks the Red Devils have been underachieving lately. For the past eight years, he's watched as his JV team averaged seven wins a season only to have the varsity struggle to get any victories at all.

"We (the varsity team) should show better than what we have been, granted we're in a tough conference," Tisron said. "But as JV coach, we could compete and beat them (conference teams).

Ê "I'm looking forward to that (the JV wins) transferring to the varsity level," he said.

One thing that Tisron thinks will be a big help in moving to the varsity level is that he's already coached every kid on the team when they were in JV.

Some of last year's JV players will be moving up to varsity along with Tisron, so the transition should be smooth. Players have the benefit of already knowing Tisron's coaching style and his expectations.

One of those players who will be moving to the varsity with Tisron is junior quarterback Teddy Snowden. Snowden has been the JV quarterback for the past two seasons.

"I'm bringing my QB with me (to the varsity), and that's a big plus," Tisron said. "I've got a third-year starter at quarterback."

Tisron also enjoys a solid core of returning seniors in fullback Marshall Page, linebacker Darryl Bingham, tight end Ehren Sladick, lineman Neil Schneider and receiver Michael Hines.

"Our seniors are in key positions and they're hungry because of the past few years," Tisron said. "The big bonus is they know me, and I know them."

Along with Snowden, Tisron thinks junior running backs Billy Kramer and Matt Werner will have a big impact.

"One of our strengths is our leaders, juniors and seniors not just seniors," Tisron said. "I think the juniors are going to step up big."

One thing the team wants this year is to earn the respect of the rest of the league, and they've already gone as far as to print up t-shirts as a reminder.

"Respect is something you've got to earn," Tisron said. "It's been a while since anyone has respected our varsity.

"To get respect, you've got to work hard and do what you're supposed to do."

Respect will undoubtedly come if the team achieves their other goal - getting six wins and making the playoffs.

"Our biggest goal is to make the playoffs," Tisron said. "If we get six wins, we'll be happy campers."