A head coach in any sport, especially football, has to guide his team through the highs and the lows of the season and maximize the talent of the squad to ensure they reach their potential.
The 2023 football season saw Downingtown West record a 11-3 mark and advance to the District 1 6A championship game before bowing to Central Bucks South.
It is never easy to get to a district title game and the Whippets had two regular-season losses — to Chester and Downingtown East. But, when the money was on the line in the playoffs, the Whippets defeated their first three opponents and advanced to the championship game. They knocked off undefeated teams in Souderton and Downingtown East on the way.
It is for righting the ship and getting every ounce out of his players that Mike Milano is The Daily Local News All-Area Football Coach of the Year.
There are a miniscule number of coaches in District 1 that are better in a one-game scenario than Milano. After a lopsided loss to Downingtown East in the regular-season finale, Milano came up with a great game plan and got his kids to believe and the Whippets knocked off the undefeated and favored Cougars in the semifinals.
The Whippets always have one of the most diverse and innovative offense in the district, and this comes back to Milano, who is a great offensive mind. The 2023 season was a huge success and the architect of all of it was their long time head coach who had his finest moment when it counted the most.
