Howland hires Amero for softball

By Tom Williams

HOWLAND — The urge to coach softball against Poland and Canfield twice a season has proven irresistible to Bill Amero.

Howland High School has hired Amero to take over the varsity softball program. Amero, who coached 12 seasons at Boardman before not being rehired in July 2008, replaces Jane Price who resigned in September.

Rick King, Howland’s activities supervisor, said Price cited time constraints as her reason for not returning.

“We’re lucky to get a coach who is so well-qualified,” King said. “Everybody is aware of how our girls soccer and basketball programs do well. Our softball team has always been one click away.”

Amero said coaching a team in the All-American Conference Red Tier “is an opportunity to get my competitive juices going.”

Last spring, Amero guided Lowellville, a Division IV team in the Inter Tri-County League Tier Two, to a 13-9 season, one of the school’s best.

Leaving the Rockets wasn’t easy, Amero said.

“It was a really tough decision,” Amero said. “I had to think about it and had quite a few sleepless nights. The hardest part of this decision was talking to the Lowellville players.

“My Lowellville experience was very positive,” Amero said. “The faculty and the kids were great. I labored over it quite a bit.”

His attention now is on making the Tigers competitive against Poland, a Div. II regional finalist last May, and Canfield, the Div. II state champions in 2008. Last spring, Poland eliminated Howland in the district tournament.

“When I met with [Athletic Director Ron McCleary], I looked at Howland’s schedule,” Amero said. “When I saw Poland, Canfield, Ursuline and Mooney, I swear I got goosebumps.

“This is where I want to be. And Howland has a strong youth program.”

In 12 seasons at Boardman, Amero compiled a record of 248-104 and took the Spartans to three state appearances.

After finishing Div. I state runners-up in 2000, the Spartans won the title in 2001. They were state semi-finalists in 2002.

The state run ended in 2003 when the Spartans were upset by Howland (then coached by Brian Earich) in the district final.

At Boardman, Amero often invited top regional teams to play a series of Saturday doubleheaders. He plans to revive that plan at Howland.

He’s not only the Amero changing softball positions. His daughter Laura, the Campbell Memorial softball coach for the past three seasons, has taken over the Western Reserve program.

An English teacher at Western Reserve, she replaces Joe Serensky who coached the Blue Devils for nine seasons.

Laura Amero was a member of Boardman’s state teams and played for Youngstown State.

williams@vindy.com