AMBOY – Every head coach of every varsity football team has a staff of assistant coaches.

But not every head coach and staff of assistant coaches win back-to-back state titles.

Amboy-LaMoille-Ohio coach Scott Payne is thankful for the group of guys he has around him to lead the Clippers off the field, at practice, during the regular season, and for the last three years, to the Illinois 8-Man Football Association State Championship.

To be able to come here and be around my assistant coaches is truly a pleasure for me,” Payne said. “We’re all really good friends. We hang out off of the football field. I couldn’t ask for a better assistant coaching group.

“None of this would be possible without them. They deserve more credit than anyone. I just love being around them every day.”

Here is what Payne said about each coach less than 24-hours after defeating Milledgeville 42-14 or the Clippers second state championship in two years.

Jeramey Wittenauer

“We’ve been coaching together for over 20 years. We were both assistants under Gary “Tank” Jones. He was a senior when I was a freshman in high school, so I’ve known him a long time. We’ve been through a lot together as coaches. Jeramey is a great coach. He does a tremendous job with the offensive line.

“Everyone always says our line is so good. Well, they have a really good coach inn Coach Wittenauer. He’s the defensive coordinator and he does a great job with our defense. The past few years, we’ve given up an average of 15 points per game. In 8-man football that’s huge. I’m happy to call Jeramey a friend and work with him every single day on the football field.”

Kenny Shrimplin

“We were assistants under Coach Jones. Kenny was actually on the team when LaMoille kids first joined Amboy for the coop. Kenny does a great job with the special teams. There are a few times I get a little mad at him on the sideline, but it’s all in good nature. He is the offensive line coach, so him and Jeramey get the line prepared every single week.

“I’d have to double check, but I think we’ve only given up one special team’s touchdown this year, if any. That’s because Kenny does a great job of always having the kids ready to play. He takes a lot of pride in coaching the special team’s group.

“It’s great to see and I’m very proud of him.”

Tyson Powers

“I coached Tyson when he was in high school. I was the head freshman/sophomore coach when Tyson was a freshman and a sophomore. He was our starting quarterback. When he was a senior, that’s when I moved up to varsity and I got to coach him again.

“He came back to town three years ago. He text me and said he wanted to be a volunteer coach. He added he didn’t need to get paid. I said absolutely. I told him I’d find a way to find him some money. I couldn’t guarantee how much, but we found him some money.

“He brings a lot to the program. He takes a lot off of my plate because he’ll take care of a lot of things so I don’t have to worry about them. The kids love him and love hanging out with him. It’s going to be exciting over the next few years coaching with him and this entire group.”

Sam Jones

“He’s another coach who was an assistant with me under Jones. Sam was on the first state championship in 1984 as a starting defensive tackle. Sam is the head JV coach. I think they’ve only lost one game over the last three years at the JV level. Sam is on a tremendous run.

“He does a great job of getting the younger players ready to play varsity football. During the varsity games, he’s in the booth on the headset for the defense and helps Coach Wittenauer. The last two years he’s coached to all-state defensive ends in Brennan Blaine and Quinn Leffelman. It shows how great of a job he does with the defensive ends.”