Sizemore Ready to Lead Bulls Into Inaugural APHL Season

New Wooster head coach brings community focus and a physical brand of hockey

When Tim Sizemore picked up the phone a few months back, he knew saying yes to the decision presented to him would be the right move.

“When the Bulls called, I thought it would be a great opportunity to use my coaching experience to help the team compete and win for the community,” Sizemore said.

Now, after years of working within the sport of hockey across multiple levels and roles, Sizemore is preparing to guide the Wooster Bulls into their inaugural season in the American Premier Hockey League (APHL). 

He recently moved from Columbus to Wooster to take on the role of Director of Hockey at the local rink, where much of his time there has been spent helping others discover their love for the game through different programs.

That focus on growing the sport from the ground up comes naturally for Sizemore, whose own passion for hockey has shaped both his career and approach from behind the bench. When building the Bulls, he wants to make sure the team is competitive, but also connected to the community.

“My vision for the team is one that is a primary figure in the community of Wooster,” he said. “That could be winning games and making them fun to go to, but above all giving back to the fans and the community we represent.”

Though still new to Wooster, he has noticed how wide the hockey community stretches. Unlike rinks that may serve just local neighborhoods, Wooster’s Alice Noble Arena draws players and families from across the region.

“I have learned that our rink is more of a regional facility rather than a local facility like rinks in the Cleveland area,” Sizemore said. “We have families in the Wooster Youth Hockey Association that come from Mansfield, Ashland, Orrville, Etc.”

With the broad base of support, Sizemore said that player development remains at the heart of the Bulls’ mission.

“I want this team to be a destination for top tier talent in our league as home for players to develop and acquire the tools necessary to propel them to the next level,” he said.

When it comes to strategy and play on the ice, Sizemore is expecting his guys to be physical and wear down the opposition.

“I am a firm believer in physical play wins games,” he said. “If you wear down your opponent by giving them a bump every time they touch the puck, they will slow down and make more mistakes.”

Sizemore understands that not every player on the ice will be the biggest though. He long admired the game of Johnny Gaudreau, whose skill and competitiveness while being undersized forced others to respect him.

One coach who made a significant impact on him though during his younger days was junior hockey coach, Ryan Gayso.

"Growing up I had a fair share of good coaches and bad coaches. If I were to emulate any of them It would be my Junior Hockey Coach, Ryan Gayso." he said. "He was a great mentor who always had your back. He also cared deeply for the game. 

"If he was not coaching us on the Junior team, he would be mentoring the younger generation into getting started in the sport."

While he may have professional players he has commended and coaches that have influenced his leadership, he doesn’t try to model himself after anyone in particular. 

“I just try to be myself and do my best every day,” he said. “I had coaches growing up that I know I do not want to be like for one reason or the other. I believe a good coach has patience; they are also effective in communicating their thoughts to players and staff. 

“They also need to be able to take criticism. Nobody has all the answers.”

Between his duties as Director of Hockey at Alice Noble Arena and his new role with the Bulls, Sizemore admitted he does not have much time away from the sport. However, when he does, he uses the time to grow personally and take moments to relax.

“I try to do something to better myself, like reading or working out,” Sizemore said. “Otherwise, I am a big fan of College Football, NFL, and UFC. Above all I love to spend time with my Cattle Dog BoJack.”

As the Bulls begin preparation for the 2025-26 season, Sizemore's coaching style, passion for the game and connection to the community will help build the team’s identity as they head out onto the ice.