Nick Cliche: Varsity Offensive Coordinator
Jason Jackson: Head Football Coach
Jason was born and raised in Seattle, WA. He started playing football at seven years old and continued on through his first year of college at Central Washington University. Jason was the first freshman in the history of his high school to play varsity as a Freshmen and went on to complete a very successful high school football career for Renton Senior High School.
Jason graduated from Central Washington University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Speech Communications.
Jason started his career working with kids at Echo Glen; a juvenile detention center in WA state. He also worked as a probation officer for the state of WA before relocating to Maine in 2008. He is currently an Ed Tech at South Portland High School where he works in the district’s One Classroom Program for at-risk youth.
Jason started coaching in the Renton, WA youth football program in 2003 and he has never stopped coaching since. Jason was hired as the Cape Elizabeth co-head Middle School coach in 2009 and remained with Cape until accepting the head coach position for Deering. Jason coached the middle school team in Cape from 2009-2012. While co-head coach for the middle school, Jason also worked closely with the high school program and assisted with scouting, double sessions, practices and attended all high school coaches meetings. Jason was asked to come up to the high school program for the 2013 season and continued as a Varsity Assistant Coach and JV Coach for two years at Cape.
During the 2014 season Jason pulled double duty as a Cape Varsity Assistant Coach and Head Coach for the Portland Youth Football; Raiders. Jason led the Raiders through a successful season and made it the league Championship. The Raiders were also awarded the Sportsmanship Award.
Jason has been the Deering High School football coach since 2015. He is grounded in this community; his sons attend Longfellow Elementary School and Lincoln Middle School and there is no other high school program that he’d want to be coaching.
Nick is a former All-Conference football player in Vermont lettering in three out of his four years while starting on both sides of the ball. Upon graduation he attended and graduated from Thomas College in Waterville, Maine with a degree in Sports Management.
Nick started his coaching career in 2008 with Portland Youth Football and was the Co-Head coach of the Portland Middle School team for four seasons prior to joining the Deering staff. He joined the Deering staff in 2015 when Coach Jackson took over. His last three years as the Portland Middle School Coach, his teams finished a combined 28-2 with back to back State Championships.
Nick has worked for the city of Portland’s Recreation Department for over ten years and is currently a Recreation Supervisor running their youth basketball leagues, summer camps, and overseeing all community center programs.
Nick is thrilled to be a part of the Deering coaching staff and looks forward to working with the offense in 2017.
Jamel Murph: Defensive Coordinator
Jamel Murph joined the Deering Football staff in 2016 as Co-Defensive Coordinator. 2017 will mark his 1st season as the DC. Coach Murph came to Deering after a successful stint as a defensive coach on the Falmouth football staff in previous seasons. Coach Murph was a heralded high school football player out of the New York who took a scholarship to the University of Maine where he went on to be a starting linebacker for the Black Bears. He was a top 2 leader on the team in tackles in all 4 seasons at LB. Coach Murph brings a wealth of knowledge on the defensive side of the ball. He’s our Linebacker position coach, but coaches all aspects of the defense. Coach Murph is a Physical education teacher in the Portland Public school department.
Meet the Staff
I
Rob Vail: Offensive Line Coach
Rob Vail joined the Deering Football staff in 2016 as an assistant offensive line coach. Rob was an incredible high school football player earning All State credentials at Boothbay High School. He received the Chet Bulger award his senior year as the State’s Best O-lineman. He drew interest from many Division I and Division I AA programs. Rob ended up taking a full scholarship offer from the University of Maine. He attended and played 1 year at UMAINE before injuring his shoulder and deciding to move closer to home and attend Colby College in Waterville, Maine. Rob starred at Colby playing offensive and defensive tackle positions for 4 years. He was an All-Conference lineman at Colby. Rob brings extensive knowledge of line play and technique to our coaching staff. Rob works in Financial Planning/Wealth Management here in Portland, and looks forward to a full season at the helm of the offensive and defensive line group.
Bill Presby: Head First Team Coach
Coach Presby has been coaching the Freshmen team at Deering for 27 seasons. He is invaluable to this program and we are beyond excited that he will continue with us and bring his extensive football and DHS knowledge to our coaching staff. His experience and expertise are irreplaceable.
Deering Rams Coaching Philosophy
The Deering Rams Football coaching philosophy is pretty basic: we will provide an avenue for young adults to become great people by providing an environment that encourages athletes to learn and develop on and off the field. Our philosophy is grounded in our belief that this team is a family and a brotherhood. Our priorities are sportsmanship, character integrity, discipline and hard work.
Staff Expectations:
1. Coaches will always support each other. All disagreements will occur behind closed doors and will be settled face to face by the coaches involved. Only regular coaching staff will attend any coach’s meetings. No coach will second guess another coach in any manner. Coaches will work together collaboratively and respectfully.
2. Coaches will be positive and supportive of all players and will promote that attitude in each player. There will be no negative statements, sarcasm, or cynicism. Coaches will not have “pet” players or players they are down on. All players will be treated fairly and evaluated for what they do on the field. Coaches will never discuss personnel with other players unless the statement is positive. Matters concerning players arriving late, violating team rules, or committing other infractions will be handled privately by the head coach.
3. Coaches will show poise and they will instill poise in their players. Coaches will never lose sight of the fact that the players are the game. Each player will be treated with respect and as an individual. Correcting players will be done in a positive manner. We constantly strive to improve our ability to coach the mental and emotional.
4. Coaches will be professional and be a credit to the coaching profession. Coaches will never get in verbal confrontations or say anything negative to any opposing coach or player. Coaches will respect the referees.
5. Coaches must be very emotional and totally enthusiastic about coaching but always in complete control of their emotions. The best coaching decisions can be made only when both feet are on the ground and the coach is thinking clearly.
6. Coaches will coach the total player. We take players to their limits and saturate them with positive motivation as we work to develop total dominance on the football field. Xs and Os and technique are important, but we always strive to be the best at coaching the mind. Motivated players are successful players.
John Hardy: WR/DB Coach
John Hardy joined the Deering Football staff in 2016 as an assistant after graduating from the University of Maine. John is a 2010 Deering graduate and football player. John was named First Team All-State by the Maine Sunday Telegram. He caught 51 passes for 924 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior and led his Deering team to the 2010 Western Maine Class ‘A’ Championship game.
John walked on the University of Maine football team, and ended up a starting Wide Receiver over his time there. John will be working as the Wide Receivers and Defensive Backs coach in 2017. John is currently a Physical Education teacher at Deering and Casco Bay High School. John also runs the weight room for Deering high school. Coach Hardy brings immense passion and dedication to Deering football.
Jordan Foley grew up in Pennsylvania playing football, basketball, and baseball. Coach Foley played quarterback and safety, and was the captain of his High School baseball team. He was named Pittsburg area athlete of the year his senior year. He joined the Deering staff in 2016 as our Quarterbacks coach and also worked with our kick/punt returners. Coach Foley is an active military member in the Navy.
Coach Foley graduated from Navy where he played Sprint football for four years. He was a second team All CFSL league member in 2010 at Navy leading the team in all-purpose yards. Coach Foley brings a wealth of knowledge in Quarterback play to our program.
Jordan Foley:
Quarterbacks Coach
Sean Green:
OL/DL Coach
Sean played football all four years at Littleton High School in Massachusetts. During his high school career he played offensive line and rotated between defensive line and linebacker on defense. Sean continued playing football in college as a starting left guard for Bridgewater State University.
Sean began his coaching career as a player volunteer for Littleton's youth football program. He fell in love with coaching right from the start. In 2010 he took a position with Littleton High School as the offensive and defensive line coach. In 2013 he was promoted to co-offensive coordinator. During his time at Littleton High School they had an overall record of 44-18. Capped off by back to back State Championship appearances in 2013 and 2014. During the 2013 Season they went 13-0 and won a Massachusetts State Championship at Gillette Stadium. Littleton successfully qualified for the playoffs in all 5 of his seasons with the team.
