Tim Psaradelis Hired As Nantucket's Next Varsity Football Coach
David Creed •
Tim Psaradelis has been hired to become the next varsity football coach for Nantucket High School, the school's athletic department announced Thursday morning in a press release. Psaradelis was a member of the Whaler football coaching staff from 2009-2015 before rejoining the staff in 2018, where he has been the team's offensive coordinator ever since.
Psaradelis also played football for the legendary Nantucket football head coach Vito Capizzo from 1993-1996. He graduated from Nantucket High School in 1997.
"It has been an exciting 24 hours," Psaradelis said. "I've just been reflecting over the past 24 hours how embedded I have become with this program. From being a player to a coach beginning in 2009, I've been able to experience to continuity between players and coaches here. It isn't just me either. My father, my brother, they have all been part of this program"
Psaradelis said the first thing he will focus on implementing is a culture predicated on respect, hard work, and one that is morphed through the values of both the coaches and the players.
"The main thing is the culture should be almost palpable," he said. "It should be there and be the basis of this program whether we are walking into a meeting, the practice field, or on the field for game day. Everyone should be able to taste the culture. Something I preach is the five minute rule. Within five minutes of being a member of this program someone should know the values, what matters, what our goals are on and off the field. That will be my first step, to instill that culture."
Psaradelis said discipline will be one of those core values.
"That culture needs to be modeled by coaches and embedded in practice," Psaradelis said. "Respecting the opposition, referees, fans, and good sportsmanship. Making sure our language is appropriate."
Psaradelis said the losses over the years to programs such as Cohasset, Abington, and Mashpee have motivated him. He said he has spent a lot of time thinking over what he can do to help his players get over the hump.
"I think those teams have a discipline and culture we haven't had that they can fall back on in the fourth quarters of these games that ultimately allows them to come out on top," he said. "They don't have better athletes than us. It is hard for me to watch our kids not have success in some of these moments. I know we can get this program to a place where we are having that success and where we do have that culture to fall back on against some of these strong programs."
Psaradelis has coached at both the JV and Varsity levels and has assumed the role of defensive and offensive Coordinator for the varsity team at various points throughout his coaching career. He was a member of the coaching staff for the 2011 Super Bowl Championship team.
"We know that his vision and goals for this program will have a positive and lasting difference in the lives of our student-athletes," the athletic department said in their press release. "We look forward to having Tim join our Whaler coaching staff in this capacity."
Psaradelis has taught at Nantucket Public Schools for 17 years. He spent three of those years at Cyrus Peirce Middle School and the remaining at Nantucket High School.
Psaradelis takes over for former head coach Joe Perry, who stepped down from the position in March after four seasons leading the program. Defensive coordinator Mark Willett, whom Psaradelis is very close with, will also be returning.
"I can't even reiterate how big it was to hear from him that he was all-in to come back and help out next year," Psaradelis said. "Taking this job is bigger than one person. We have a lot of good coaches on this staff who I am excited to continue working with, but Mark and I are close. So having him back will be great for this program."