After guiding the Corning-Painted Post football team to its first berth in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association semifinals last season, Mike Johnston Jr. is back for his fifth season as the Hawks' head coach.

Johnston, 57, coached Corning's boys basketball and softball teams to Section 4 championships earlier this year. The Hawks won state softball titles under Johnston in 2019 and 2024, and this year's team made it to the NYSPHSAA AAA final four.

He coached Corning West football from 1994 to 2009, and was part of four sectional championships as Elmira's offensive coordinator before taking the same position at Corning in 2019. Johnston is in his 36th year coaching.

Answer: I don’t know, I think times have changed unfortunately. We have good numbers right now. We’re at 46, but that’s with 14 sophomores up. We figured over the summer returners we’d be somewhere mid-20s, 30s. We may end up there. Who knows? But I doubt it.

But I just think there’s so many other things kids are interested in. We as adults, I want you to be busy doing some things. Everybody........

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