AMHERST — The Amherst Regional High School football team will be under new direction next season, as 24-year old Jack Putala steps in to take the reins of the Hurricane program. Putala served as Amherst’a defensive coordinator for the last three seasons and is replacing Vinnie Guiel, who coached the team from 2022-2024.

Guiel had planned to come back to patrol the sidelines in Amherst for a fourth year, but an opportunity to take the Simsbury High School (Conn.) job arose – and he jumped at it. Guiel’s children are in the Simsbury school district, so this allows him to be closer to them. Hurricanes offensive coordinator Zach Lebeau went with Guiel to Simsbury, leaving Putala as the next man up.

Whether it was handing out water to his father John Putala’s Turners Falls High School-coached football team as a young boy, coaching while earning a degree in college or leading Amherst’s stellar defense in 2023, Putala’s deep football background aided his chances at getting the Hurricanes’ job. It helped that he’s also built relationships with members of the Amherst community, and that Guiel vouched for Putala to be his replacement.

“It means a lot to me,” said Putala, who played football and graduated from Turners Falls in 2019 before attending UMass. “I’ve been involved in high school football basically since I’ve been in diapers. My dad coached when I was younger, I was the water boy before I could play. And then as soon as I could play, I did. I played all four years in high school, and as soon as I was done I started coaching… When Vinnie decided to go to Simsbury, he vouched for me to get the job. I met with the interview committee, and my vision aligned with theirs. It all worked out. Now here we are.”

In 2019, Amherst made it all the way to the MIAA Division 5 state championship, where it lost 21-0 to Swampscott. The two years following that, the Hurricanes won a combined two games. Enter Guiel, who finished his three-year tenure with a 17-13 record.

Putala’s plan is to continue to build what Guiel started and take it to another level. He said his program is going to be run on accountability and discipline. He expects coaches to hold each other and players accountable, players to hold each other accountable and most importantly, players to hold themselves accountable.

“We laid a nice foundation the past couple of years, but I have a goal in place to build this program,” Putala said. “Amherst, historically, has not been a great football program. I want to turn it into something that students want to play, kids growing up want to play here. Our players are going to be involved in the community and do things the right way. That foundation has been laid down, but now it’s all about continuing to grow and build it.”

That process isn’t something Putala is waiting to start, either. The Hurricanes are already in the gym, lifting four times a week. Amherst graduated 13 seniors, 11 of which started — most of them on both sides of the ball. There are going to be plenty of positions to fill and players are already hungry and eager to make their mark, according to Putala.

“We have some kids who are going to be rising seniors and juniors who are really stepping into their leadership positions well and getting kids into the weight room,” Putala said. “That’s crucial for us. The last few years, we’ve been a good football team athletically and what not, but sometimes when we played other teams we completely got over-powered. They were more physical than us. If you’re not strong enough, you’re not going to win games. So we’re starting now with team lifts and trying to shape a physical mentality.”

While the final roster won’t be official until the end of August, Putala has rounded out his coaching staff. Mike Isabelle and Noah Lamb were both on the staff last year and will be staying put with Putala. He’s brought on Adam Tanguay as his offensive coordinator, someone he trusts deeply. Tanguay has a deep coaching history that stems mostly from his time at Chicopee High School.

Drew Skelton is new to the staff and his job is to work with both the offensive and defensive lines. Neil Cunniffe rounds out the staff as an assistant coach. Cunniffe played football at Amherst and Putala coached him for two years. Putala will handle defensive coordinator and head coaching duties.

When Guiel originally received the Amherst gig in 2022, he had no prior relationship with Putala. Through a mutual contact, the two got in touch and briefly talked on the phone. In no time at all, Putala was on staff as Guiel’s defensive coordinator.

After learning under Guiel for a handful of years, it’s now Putala’s turn to lead the Amherst program.

“I am appreciative of Vinnie for giving me a shot,” Putala said. “I didn’t even know the guy and after a 10-minute phone conversation he offered me the DC job. I wouldn’t have gotten my foot in the door without him.”