Mike Arakelian Takes Over as Head Football Coach at Hackettstown High School

It’s a first-time head coaching job for Mike Arakelian, and he knows there’s history involved with Hackettstown High School Tigers football.

“Part of my job now is learning that history, and talking to people that have been here,” Arakelian says, who has some experience in Hackettstown because he formerly lived in neighboring Liberty. However, he’s also seen – “lived” perhaps is a better word - the gridiron battles. “My father coached at Somerville for a long time, back in the old Skyland (Conference) when Hackettstown used to be in that conference. I remember being a little kid and being a ball boy, going to games in Hackettstown, or remember them playing at Somerville, and I’m aware as an outsider playing against Hackettstown while also at Hanover Park and Morris Catholic. I certainly have a tremendous amount of respect for the confidence that you always saw out of the players, and it was always a great community atmosphere anytime I was at a game at Hackettstown.”

Arakelian held an initial meeting with prospective Tiger players and their parents on Monday evening, May 2nd. “It was just to get my face out there and meet everybody, kind of an informal meeting,” he says. “I gave a presentation, just a little background on where I’m from, and it was more of a time to kind of just walk around and shake people's hands and introduce myself to the players and the parents there so we can all kind of initially get to know each other.”

Arakelian, 33, had served as an assistant coach, and Defensive Back and Offensive Line coach at Morris Catholic in Denville for nine years, next spent a year coaching linebackers for the Montclair State Red Hawks, headed back to Morris Catholic for an additional two years with the Crusaders, and last year was an assistant for the Hanover Park High School Hornets. He played both football (quarterback and wide receiver) and baseball at Whippany Park High School, and after graduation went on to play sports at Springfield College in Massachusetts.

As the fall of 2022 slowly approaches, Arakelian is anxious to get settled on the Morrison Field sidelines, and he looks forward to his players joining him there. “The thing that really popped out last year was just how hard they played and how tough they were. I think as a coach, that's always what you're looking for: to have tough, hard working football players.” Those players will have an equally hard-working coach leading them. “In terms of what I feel like I'll be on the sidelines, it’s someone who's going to be energetic, enthusiastic, and who will be organized. We want to have a product that the community is proud of.”

Mike Arakelian playing for Whippany Park High School

 As previously mentioned, Arakelian grew up around high school football and, having lived the experience, considers Friday night and Saturday afternoon gridiron battles a wonderful experience, especially for players. “It's just seeing the players be successful,” he says. “The growth that they get, typically in football and high school athletics in general, but specifically in football. The values and qualities that make you successful in football I think are certainly similar to those that will make you successful in life. Being on a team, having something that's more important than you so there's not just the individual aspect to it, and the mental toughness, the physical toughness, the accountability - I think all of those qualities are certainly things that high school athletics and high school football bring out.” Arakelian also values the relationships the players develop and build from freshman to senior year. “That to me has been the best part about being a coach, working in high school, and even being a teacher: seeing those guys develop those relationships that you know are real and that you know are going to last when they leave here.”

Growing up and being that young ball boy for his dad and the Somerville Pioneers was indeed important for the then young Arakelian, but then there’s also them men who coached him who made a distinct impression that has lasted to this day. “The guys that coached me were certainly an inspiration, in terms of me wanting to get into the profession, be a teacher, and be a coach,” Arakelian says. He then reflects again on the job ahead. “I’m really excited to be here, and I'm really looking forward to this opportunity.”