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10/14/2016 12:00 AMDaniel Ives is back on the gridiron for the Hand Tigers, but this time, he’s on the team’s coaching staff. Daniel played football in Madison growing up and then for four years at Hand, competing on the varsity squad for two seasons before graduating in 2012. Now, Daniel has returned to his alma mater as a volunteer coach with the Tigers and he’s also in his first year teaching special education at Jeffrey Elementary School.
“I always wanted to be able to give back to the sport,” says Daniel, who graduated from Salve Regina, where he also played football, this past spring. “I lucked out to get the opportunity to be hired as a special education teacher at Jeffrey Elementary School and, right when I got that opportunity, [Hand football Head Coach Steve Filippone] reached out to me about coaching.”
Filippone not only helped Daniel become a better football player, but also inspired Daniel’s career choice as Filippone is also a teacher. Several of Daniel’s relatives, including an uncle, an aunt, and his grandparents, were teachers, too.
“I always knew I wanted to be a teacher because a lot of my greatest role models were teachers,” says Daniel. “This opportunity at Jeffrey has been a dream come true to give back to the community I grew up in. I felt at home there from day one and it’s very cool to work alongside some of the teachers I used to have.”
Daniel finds it rewarding to work in special education and likes that he gets to do so in the town that helped make him the person he is today.
“I’m in a position where I can provide a lot of structure and positive reinforcement that these little guys need and I can make a positive impact, which I’m grateful for,” he says. “Being able to come back to my hometown to be a male role model is something I’m very excited about and proud of.”
Daniel certainly has a passion for teaching and is often at school until 5 p.m. every day. After he’s finished, Daniel heads to Hand to volunteer as the Tigers’ linebackers coach. Returning to high school has brought back many fond memories for Daniel—one of which was when the team capped his senior year by claiming the state title.
“It was definitely nice to go out on top,” says Daniel, who played linebacker for Hand. “I give a lot of credit to the coaching staff because they don’t only set you up for success on the field, but also in life and as a man. Our coaches demanded so much of us as a man and human beings—to hold each other accountable, be selfless, and be responsible, which are great qualities on the field and in life.”
Daniel also credits the Tigers’ coaching staff for preparing him to continue playing at the college level. Daniel played for four years at Salve Regina, where he got to compete alongside Troy Smith, a fellow former Tiger.
“It was nice to keep the Hand brotherhood going in college and it helped to have some familiar faces,” says Daniel, who’s also a certified personal trainer. “All four years were really great. Senior season was really nice because there was a small group of seniors on an 85-person team. We also won a Northeast Bowl game, which was a really nice way to end things. I knew I wouldn’t be able to give up football completely, so it was nice to make that switch to coaching.”
Filippone is also glad that Daniel decided to give coaching a try. Filippone has seen Daniel begin his teaching career and is proud of how Daniel has adjusted to both the classroom and his role as a coach. Filippone feels excited to see “one of the best players” he’s had take what he learned from his high school and college experiences and use that to help the Tigers.
“Danny was and continues to be one of the nicest, most decent guys around us,” says Filippone. “He’s young and he’s fresh and he’s innovative. Even though he’s just out of school, he’s very mature, but he’s young enough that he gets what they’re thinking and how they’re thinking. It’s a beautiful combination. He and Mike Davis are extraordinary additions to what was already a great group of coaches.”
While Filippone and Hand’s other coaches were big influences, Daniel has always been around the football field as his uncle and grandfather both played in college and later coached. Daniel’s strong support system also includes his parents, plus his strength coach Robert Mangino.
Looking ahead, Daniel is in the process of choosing his master’s program and is considering studying educational leadership as he has a goal of one day working in administration. On the football field, Daniel hopes to instill the same qualities in his players that he learned at Hand, while reminding them to enjoy their time on the gridiron.
“The big thing is not to take a second of anything for granted, especially on the football field, because you never know if it’ll work out playing ball in college or with injuries. You need to cherish every second and enjoy the ride,” says Daniel. “I’m just so grateful to be in the position I am with a great teaching job and being able to help out with football on the side. I’m just enjoying the moment.”