Villella replacing Timko as head coach of JFK boys varsity basketball team

By Tom Williams

WARREN — In replacing Bruce Timko as boys varsity basketball coach, Warren JFK High School is returning to its Steel Valley Conference days.

Warren JFK has hired Brent Villella, a 2003 graduate of Cardinal Mooney High, to replace Timko.

Brian Sinchak, JFK principal, said Timko resigned because of philosophical differences.

Villella, who played for former Mooney coach Nick Bellino, has been Hudson High’s freshman coach since graduating from Kent State University in 2007 where he majored in integrated mathematics.

While studying at Kent State, Villella served as student manager to the men’s basketball team for three seasons.

“It was a unique opportunity and I didn’t mind such things as wiping sweat off the floor or loading the bus,” Villella said. “I was able to be at those practices for three years.

“I saw how they taught, what it was like being in huddles and locker rooms before and after games,” Villella said

”The Kent State experience helped me accumulate so much knowledge about this game, how to teach the game, conduct practices and treat players,” Villella said. “It was a very, very important opportunity.”

During his senior year, Villella was a student teacher at Ravenna High and served as the assistant freshman basketball coach.

Two years ago, Villella was hired to teach seventh-grade math at Heskett Middle School in Bedford Heights and was a varsity assistant coach for Hudson before getting that school’s freshman coaching position.

At JFK, he will be responsible for tutoring and pupil supervision.

“I’ll be in school all day,” something Villella said he values after teaching at one school and coaching at another.

Villella said choosing an education career was his prime desire.

“I like math,” Villella said. “Coaching is a bonus that came with it.”

Villella is finishing up his master’s degree in educational evaluation and measurement.

“Coach Villella is a man of faith and an ambitious and competitive coach,” Sinchak said. “He also is a talented educator and a seasoned strength and condition coach.

“He will bring value not only to the basketball court and weight room but also the hallways and classrooms at John F. Kennedy Junior and Senior High School.”

williams@vindy.com