We at The league are committed to have the very best coaches and GM’s in the country. Our Head Coaches and GM’s consist of current NCAA D3 Coaches, Retired D1 and Ivy league Coaches, Former NFL Players, and Elite High school Coaches
Metrowest Maulers
GM/HC – Scott Sperone
Scott Sperone took over as the Head Football Coach at Fitchburg State University in February 2020. He and his staff recruited 71 players from 20 states. Sperone is looking forward to bringing in another strong class in 2021 and competing this fall.
Prior to Fitchburg State, Sperone served as the Defensive Coordinator at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. At WPI his defense was ranked nationally as a top 20 defense in scoring and total defense all three years of his tenure. From 2017-2019 the Engineers Defense also recorded 7 Shutouts. Sperone was on staffs that won 2 New England Bowls, broke the school record for wins and won a MASCAC Championship in 2019.
Before WPI, Sperone helped Brian Surace rebuild the Fairleigh Dickinson University football program for six seasons as the Defensive Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator. Sperone recruited Isaiah Turner, who became the 5th AFCA All-American at FDU and served as captain of FDU’s first winning season in 25 years. Sperone also held the roles of Academic Coordinator and Strength & Conditioning Coordinator within the Devils Football Program.
Sperone’s first Defensive Coordinator job was at Merrimack College, under Head Coach John Perry. In his first season at Merrimack in 2008 the Warriors defense finished 3rd nationally in Division II with 4.1 sacks per game. In 2009 Merrimack won the Northeast 10 Championship. Sperone coached 3 All-Americans on his defensive units including Shawn Loiseau who played for the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts. His efforts as Recruiting Coordinator brought in athletes from 14 different states in three years.
Prior to becoming a Defensive Coordinator, Sperone spent three years on the offensive side of the ball at Brown University (Running Backs) and Williams College (Wide Receivers). At Brown, the Bears offense led the Ivy League in Points and Total Offense in 2007. At Williams, Sperone Coached 2 All-Conference Wide Receivers, Brendan Fullmer – who led the league in touchdowns, and John Dreckhahn – who led the league in receptions and later participated in camp with the New York Jets.
Sperone went to Springfield College, where he played safety from 1997-2000 while majoring in Physical Education. His first coaching job was at King’s College as the Outside Linebackers Coach. He then returned to Springfield as a Graduate Assistant Cornerbacks Coach while completing his Master’s Degree in Athletic Administration. Sperone also coached at Stonehill College as the Defensive Backs Coach and Recruiting Coordinator in 2004.
Fitchburg State University, Head Coach, 2020-current
Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Defensive Coordinator – 2017-2019
Fairleigh Dickinson University, Defensive Coordinator – 2011-2016
Merrimack College, Defensive Coordinator – 2008-2010
Brown University, Running Backs Coach – 2006-2007
Williams College, Wide Receivers Coach – 2005
Stonehill College, Defensive Backs Coach – 2004
Springfield College, Cornerbacks Coach – 2002-2003
King’s College, Outside Linebackers Coach – 2001
Boston Junkyard Dogs
HC – Mike Kelleher
Former Brown DC
Mike Kelleher was the defensive coordinator at Brown University for 19 years and before that coached at FCS colleges Columbia, Rhode Island and Maine. He is wired into the Ivy League programs and other FCS programs around the country.
Boston Junkyard Dogs
GM – Nico Papas
Nico Papas was an All-State high school player in MA, and played his college ball at Columbia (D1AA, Ivy League), where he was a four year varsity player, playing in every game but one of his 40 game career. Nico has been heavily involved in high school football coaching/recruiting since graduation, and has a wide range of experiences related to helping HS football players maximize their potential. He is the director of Premier Football Consulting, and has worked with over 300 Student Athletes who have all gone onto play college football. Nico has also worked for Elite Football Clinics and Private Tutoring as a coach. His knowledge of the recruiting process, and connections to college/prep football coaches will be a valuable asset to any of the players in “The League”
North Shore Cobras
HC – Mike Flynn
Coach Mike Flynn has played football at Cathedral High School in Springfield, Ma., the University of Maine and most notably for eleven years on the Baltimore Ravens. Mike has coached youth and high school football through NFL sponsored clinics and camps. He is currently the head football coach at The Pingree School in Hamilton, ma. Since taking over the program in 2018 he has led the highlanders to a 15-2-1 record. His teams have had a NEPSAC bowl appearance in 2018 and a NEPSAC bowl championship in 2019.
North Shore Cobras
GM – Jim O’Leary
Jim O’Leary is a 1995 graduate of Northeastern University. He is entering his 11th year as head coach in Byfield. O’Leary started his coaching career back in 1989 as an assistant at Lynnfield High School under the mentoring of Bill Adams. O’Leary joined the staff at The Governor’s Academy in 2010 as an assistant to long time head coach Mark Gerry and was promoted to head coach in 2011 after Gerry stepped down. The Govs have won four ISL championships and three New England Bowl Championships and participated in 5 bowl games in in his first nine years as head coach.
Playing Career: O’Leary was a three-year starter at quarterback while at Northeastern University. As a sophomore he broke the single season rushing record and was voted team MVP. O’Leary’s career was cut short after suffering a career ending knee injury in the midst of his junior year. Coach O’Leary is a member of the Hall of Fame at Salem High in MA where he played football, basketball and baseball.
South Shore Dragons
HC – Kevin Kelley
Kevin Kelly, former Head Coach at Georgetown University, Special Teams Coordinator at Navy, Defensive Coordinator at Marshall, Ball State and Bryant University and current Linebacker Coach for The New York Guardians of the XFL has accepted the Head Coaching position for the South Shore Dragons.
Assistant Coaches in The League
- Mike Foley – retired D1 coach
- Casey Day – Dexter HFC
- Panos Voulgaris – Nobles HFC
- Miles Harleston – College Coach
- Aaron Canterbury – College Coach
- Kevin Duke – Springfield Assistant
- Sam Casey – College Coach
- Sam Loiseau– College Coach
- John Downs – Springfield Assistant
- Andrew Smith – Springfield Assistant
More and more added each day!
Why the Elite Spring Football League (The League)?
- It will allow high school football players the opportunity to play more football, something that is done in other parts of the country. Football hotbeds such as Florida, Texas and Ohio play football virtually year-round and as a result, a more highly recruited.
- With the pandemic taking away football in most north eastern states, this will allow players to get their football fix.
- The League open for players who are 21’s, 22’s, and 23’s. This will also give them much-needed game film for recruiting.
DO YOU BELIEVE YOU BELONG IN THE LEAGUE? DROP YOUR HIGHLIGHTS HERE TO SEE IF YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES!
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