The bond Mike Johnston Sr. has with Elmira Notre Dame High School goes back to his days as a player in the early 1960s. It has continued through multiple stints as a head coach and assistant, along with other roles at the school.

Johnston, 79, helped revive football at his alma mater last year by coaching a modified team after low numbers led the school to go without football in 2022 and 2023.

With Johnston at the helm, the Crusaders are set to return to 8-man varsity play at 1 p.m. Sept. 13 against Hamilton/Waterville at Notre Dame's Brewer Memorial Stadium.

In 1978 he coached Notre Dame to the only official state championship for a boys basketball team from the Elmira-Corning region.

Johnston talked what makes Notre Dame football special, the influence of Corning three-sport coach Mike Johnston Jr., and his friendship with Mike D'Aloisio. D'Aloisio, who died in 2022, remains the winningest high school football coach in Elmira history.

Answer: My reason for doing it is Mike D’Aloisio. I had a great friendship with........

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