Staff change at L.I. school where gridder died

THE COACHING staff will be shaken up at a Long Island high school for the 2017 season after a 16-year-old player died during a training drill, sources said Friday.

The staff changes at Sachem East High School come after Josh Mileto died Aug. 10 when he was hit in the head with a 10-foot, 400-pound utility pole used in a training exercise.

The season will still be played, officials said, with the first game on Sept. 1. Head coach Mark Wojciechowski and an unnamed assistant coach will be reassigned, officials said. Defensive coordinator Anthony Gambino will replace Wojciechowski.

Dr. Kenneth Graham, superintendent of schools, said Wednesday that investigations by the police and the school district were still underway.

“At any given point, any findings could potentially affect the team,” he said.

Emotional meetings were held between the coaches, students, parents and administrators Wednesday and Thursday.

“This united effort was an integral part of the healing process for everyone involved,” Graham said. “Our thoughts and condolences continue to be with Josh’s family and friends during this terribly difficult time.”

Mileto, a junior, was one of five players holding the heavy utility pole above their heads during the drill.

Six current and former high school football coaches told The News last week they saw no value in the Navy SEAL-like drill and no reason to do it.

It’s the responsibility of individual schools to decide which drills they run, said Tom Combs of the state public high schools athletic association XI, which Long Island.

At his funeral Tuesday, Mileto’s dark wooden casket was carried past about 1,000 mourners.

“Today, the world is Team Joshua,” the Rev. Kevin Thompson declared inside St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church.

“Tomorrow, too. And the day after that.”

His parents, Angelo and Sayyida, were joined by Joshua’s three brothers, with the teen’s mother weeping throughout the service.

Sayyida Mileto posted an emotional message Tuesday after the funeral.

“As people slowly begin to leave, and our house empties, I'm quickly beginning to face our new reality,” she wrote.

“While it will always be my 4 boys, the 4 chambers of my heart, a piece of me is missing and I’ll never be the same.” Section oversees