SHADYSIDE – Sometimes it’s simply better to learn by doing. Baptism by fire, if you will.

Michael Kernik experienced both during the recently completed high school football season in which he was thrust into an interim head coaching role at Shadyside High School when Mark Holenka resigned just before the start of official practice.

“It was definitely an adjustment,” Kernik said. “When I say it was an adjustment, it was a big-time adjustment. Having been prepared to call the offense again and then going to a new role was a huge change, obviously. I know I made a bunch of mistakes, but I hope to learn from those and get better moving forward.”

Kernik will have that opportunity to improve after the Shadyside administration and board of education lifted the interim tag and formally named him the Tigers’ head coach.

“I am excited about the opportunity,” Kernik said. “Being the head coach is something I had always dreamed about, but I didn’t know when or if it would happen. I love Shadyside. I appreciate the support of the administration, the community and all of that tied together helps to make this a special experience.”

Kernik, who will turn 39 early in 2023, led the Tigers to a 3-8 season. They did qualify for the Division VII playoffs where they fell in the opening round to Reedsville Eastern.

Actually, Shadyside won its final two regular season games – at Bridgeport and against Monroe Central – to earn the berth in the postseason. The late-season success is something that Kernik hopes to build on as the offseason program cranks up and then into pre-season camp next summer.

“I was proud of the kids for how they handled the season,” Kernik said. “They faced and dealt with a lot of adversity. Plus, we lost games when most of these kids have not been accustomed to losing too often. But, they never gave up, played hard every week through it all and you could see the progress. I will remember most how positive the kids stayed and they were willing to do anything that was asked of them.”

On top of the coaching change, Shadyside began the season with a roster that was short on depth with fewer than 30 players. It also dealt with a myriad of injuries basically from the first practice on and then they dealt with a challenging schedule that included five teams that won at least one playoff game.

While injuries are obviously unpredictable, Kernik believes the Tigers can make strides in 2023 because of the experience they gained this fall.

“I think we could have a good season (in 2023),” Kernik said. “Obviously, we have some guys to replace, but we have a lot of guys coming back who got plenty of playing time and many of them played (in 2021). We’re hoping to add a few kids and get the roster numbers up, but we have a good group and core coming back.”

Kernik’s journey to the head coaching job at his alma mater has included coaching stops at two schools prior to landing a teaching and assistant coaching position at Shadyside. He was at Hamilton Township, which is located in suburban Columbus, when he was a college student at Capital University. After finishing his degree in 2006, Kernik returned to the Ohio Valley and landed a job at Harrison Central where he spent one season working under now Martins Ferry head coach Justin Kropka.

Following that season, the opportunity to teach and coach at Shadyside presented itself and Kernik jumped at the chance. In 2013, Kernik ascended to the role of offensive coordinator.

That spring, Kernik landed his first head-coaching job when he was hired as the Tigers’ boys track coach, which he held for three seasons.

Kernik plans to mold what he’s learned from Ty Fleming, who he played under and coached with, Kropka and Holenka into his own ideas and philosophies to form what Shadyside fans will see on the field on Fridays.

“I learned a ton of stuff from all of those guys,” Kernik said. “I am hoping to use all of that to the best of my ability and pass it on to the kids to be better players and young men.”

As for his coaching staff, Kernik is hopeful that the staff returns intact, but that remains to be seen.

“I think all of the coaches who helped last year want to come back, but I am not sure if all will be able to,” Kernik said.

Along with the offseason program, Kernik is also working on the Tigers’ schedule, which still needs an opponent for Week 5.

Michael and his wife Lacie have been married for 15 years and have three daughters – Kayla (11), Karli (7) and Khloe (5).