The Buffalo Bills, in partnership with Visa, announced the 2026 Week Five High School Tackle Football Coaches of the Week. This week's recipients are Buffalo Region Coach of the Week Chad Bartoszek (Salamanca) and Rochester Coach of the Week Dr. Ismail Mehr (Hornell).
Aimed at highlighting tackle football coaches' efforts on and off the field, coaches from both the Buffalo and Rochester regions will be recognized throughout the course of the season for their team's excellence on the field and their service to their communities.
As part of the program, each winning coach's program will receive $1,000 from the Buffalo Bills and Visa, and each region's Coach of the Year will receive an additional $1,000 and be celebrated on the field at Highmark Stadium before the Bills vs. Jets game in January.
Check back each week for updates on the Buffalo and Rochester Coach of the Week winners, and good luck to all the teams in our community.
Buffalo Region Coach of the Week Salamanca head coach Chad Bartoszek was named Buffalo region Coach of the Week for the week ending Sunday, October 18, after leading the Warriors to a 36-22 win over Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove. The game was tied 22-22 at the end of the third quarter before scoring 14 unanswered points in the fourth.
"The way this season has been going—and I love these kids, and I love our program—we've had some bad moments, so you have to enjoy what tonight means, because football is hard," Bartoszek said. "I'm going to enjoy this."
Junior quarterback Ethan Baxter-Drain led the Warriors with three touchdown passes in his first varsity start behind center. Junior Remy Follman caught four passes for 92 yards and three touchdowns, and junior Taydence Stevens returned an interception for a late touchdown to seal the win.
Bartoszek was an all-New York State tight end at Salamanca before spending years at the University at Buffalo, where he caught 95 passes for 874 yards and six touchdowns.
After his career with the Bulls, the Indianapolis Colts invited him to training camp. Bartoszek graduated from UB with his degree in History Education. He earned his teaching degree and was hired as a Phys Ed teacher in Ellicottville. He was the coach at Ellicottville for one season before the program merged with Franklinville. He took the program to the Section VI championship game four times in his seven seasons, winning one title.
In 2019, Bartoszek was hired as Salamanca's athletic director and football coach. He led the Warriors to the Section 6 Class C title in 2023 and again in 2024. The Warriors advanced to the NYS championship game in 2024, and over those two seasons, they went 24-3.
"Over the years, I have realized that the value in being a good football coach goes well beyond the X's and O's," he said. "It is important that the players and families can count on you and build that relationship of trust through consistency, caring, and constant communication."
Salamanca's football program has been active in community cleanups, the Falling Leaves Festival Parade, hosting the CCMFL Super Bowls, and Huddle for Hunger with the Buffalo Bills.
Rochester Region Coach of the Week Hornell head coach Dr. Ismail Mehr was named the Rochester region (Section 5) Coach of the Week for the week ending Sunday, October 18, after leading his team to a 19-13 victory over previously undefeated Alexander/Pembroke.
With the victory, Hornell improved to 6-1. Sophomore quarterback Tyrone Buchanan sealed the win for Hornell, scoring a rushing touchdown with under five minutes left in the fourth quarter. Senior running back Matt Karr led the running game, rushing 12 times for 147 yards and a touchdown. Mehr has been a part of Hornell football for more than two decades.
A 1991 Hornell High School graduate, he returned to his hometown in 2002 after completing medical school and specializing in anesthesiology. He is a board-certified anesthesiologist and medical director at UR Medicine St. James Hospital in Hornell. He began his coaching career as an assistant on the staff of legendary Hornell football coach Gene Mastin.
After years of serving as an assistant coach, Mehr took over as head coach and has led the Red Raiders for the past four seasons. "Community involvement is an important part of the Hornell football program," said Mehr. "Hornell is a small, blue-collar, hard-working community, and the football program believes strongly in giving back to the community that supports it. As a staff, we encourage our players to be active, responsible, and proud members of the community."
2026 COTW Winners
Week 1: Mark Benton (Springville-Griffith Institute), Mike Humphrey (Le Roy/Cal-Mum)
Week 2: Nate Armella (Randolph), Dennis Pynn (Churchville-Chili)
Week 3: Jay Baumann (Starpoint), Ryan Kramer (Geneseo-Mt. Morris)
Week 4: Michael Cieslik (Orchard Park), Steve Marriott (Pittsford)
Week 5: Joe Licata (Williamsville South), Rich Lipani (Hilton)
Week 6: Paul Palizay (Williamsville North), Dave Marean (Wayne Central)
Week 7: Chad Bartoszek (Salamanca), Ismail Mehr (Hornell)
