Yorktown Grad Huff Returns as Head Soccer Coach

YORKTOWN, N.Y.—Justin Huff is coming home.

After three seasons as an assistant coach at Somers–where he helped the Tuskers to the 2021 New York State Class A title–the Yorktown High School grad is returning to his alma mater to lead the varsity soccer program.

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Huff replaces Zoran Milojevic, who left to become the associate head men’s soccer Coach at Lehman College in the Bronx back in January.

Milojevic coached the Huskers the last three campaigns, including 2022, when Yorktown won the Section 1 Class A title, the third sectional title in Husker boys soccer history. The team started that season 20-0, the first Husker squad to do so.

Huff called his homecoming a long-held ambition.

“Being the coach at Yorktown High School has always been a dream of mine since my playing days ended at YHS,” said Huff, a Husker central defensive midfielder from 2006-08. “Being able to represent the community I grew up in and am now raising my children in, is something I truly value."

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Huff's experience with the Yorktown program extends beyond his playing days.

"I had been with the program for seven years as an assistant under Ed Polchinski, so I am very familiar with how great things are run here from administration to the student body," Huff said. "This is an amazing opportunity and I look forward to making this great community proud.”

As an assistant under Polchinski, Huff was part of a Husker squad that won the Section 1 Class AA title and reached the regional finals in Ithaca in 2017.

“That was a special year,” Huff said. “It was our third finals appearance in four years and something we were really chasing. Winning that title is something I’ll always cherish and be grateful for. When you go on a run like that, as a coach, there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing the bond that is created and forever shared amongst the team.”

In the short term, Huff said he’d like to continue what the previous coaches, Milojevic and Polchinski, have established at Yorktown.

“This program holds an expected high standard both on and off the field,” Huff said. “I want my team to have a strong identity and style of play.”

In the long term Huff, whose senior year at Yorktown was Polchinski’s first as coach, plans to continue building the program and hopes to raise the level of expectation every year.

“There are so many great sports programs at Yorktown High School and I plan on Yorktown soccer being as well-known as the rest of them,” Huff said.

Huff’s assistant at Yorktown will be Marcello Spiniello.

“When I joined him (Polchinski) in 2014, Marcello was a junior and we ended up going to the section final, but ultimately falling to Byram Hills in OT,” Huff said. “Marcello was a major part of that team and scored the opening goal. Similarly to me, when his playing days were done he joined the YHS staff as our boys JV coach. He brings a ton of experience and passion as a former player/captain and now a coach. He has great insights to the game and I am lucky to have him as my assistant.”

While Huff is happy to return to the Yorktown sidelines, he cherished coaching under Somers coach Brian Lanzetta, one of the best in the business.

“For the last three years, I had the privilege of working under Brian Lanzetta,” Huff said. “He is someone that I have known for more than 25 years and is like a brother to me. I can confidently say he is one of the greatest soccer minds I have ever worked or played with. He coaches the entire year with his club program and has taught me so much about how a winning culture is created and maintained.

“Winning a state title together was a journey that I will never forget," Huff added. "It has motivated me more than ever to win that trophy again, but now with Yorktown.”

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