By John Raffel
It could be said that behind every football coach is a loving and supporting wife. That is definitely true at Ithaca, where the wives of football coaches are not only loving and supporting of their husbands, but also among the most loyal and highly-spirited Yellowjacket fans.
“With the winning streak, it’s been a lot easier in the four years,” said Sherry Hessbrook, the wife of Todd Hessbrook, who’s been a coach for 11 years. “My boys have been playing, so it’s been a little more stressful.”
Coaches spend a lot of time at the field away from home, and the last four seasons have been no different. “It’s always been that way,” Sherry said.
Supporting their husbands is the most important role for a coach’s wife, the wives agree.
Jane Snyder is the wife of long-time coach Craig Snyder, whom she calls the “eye in the sky” as the offensive coordinator. She and the others smile when admitting that it’s more fun being the wife of a coach after a win than after a loss.
The First Lady of Ithaca football has been Kristy Hessbrook, wife of head coach Terry Hessbrook. She, like her husband, could never have predicted the four-year 56-0 run for Ithaca.
“I don’t think he ever thought it was going to happen,” she said. “We were just fortunate enough to have everything fall into place with great kids and great community support.”
Kristy has noticed a few changes within her husband throughout his coaching career. “I think he’s become a better coach. He’s a lot more calm,” she said. “I think he’s the same. He’s pretty humble about the whole experience.”
For the most part, none of the wives have missed a game and have been among the most loyal fans. “We are very supportive, and we’re very lucky,” Kristy said. “We have a very supportive community.”
It’s no secret how heavy the demands can be on a coach’s time during the season.
“Terry’s coaching staff is very good about putting in all the time in he asks them to do,” Kristy said. “They come over on Sunday nights for meetings. They meet every day before and after practice. They do film on their own time, which takes away from their families.”
It’s obvious that a closeness has developed between members of the Ithaca football coaching staff, and that closeness has carried over to the wives. “We usually ride together and sit together,” Kristy said. “We like to surround ourselves with positivity.”
There’s been a lot of fun for the wives the past four years, with the undefeated regular seasons, homecomings, playoffs, and trips to Ford Field. But Kristy Hessbrook would like to think there’s been even more.
“It’s been the way the community has rallied,” she said. “It’s not just the game, but they have the dinners, the parades, the team has been escorted in and out of town by the police officers [after the state title game]. It’s been the whole experience, the atmosphere.”
Kim Moomey is the wife of Noah Moomey, who coaches special teams. “It’s been just watching their success from their first trip down to their fourth, she said, adding that her husband occasionally talks football with her. “He tells me what’s going on, and I’m there to support and listen to him.”
Jessie Rayburn is the wife of Josh Rayburn, another assistant coach. The Rayburns both teach at the school where they met.
“I’ve always enjoyed watching successful sports teams growing up,” she said. “It’s great being with a husband who is involved with a successful team.”