New
Yarmouth Football Coach to Continue Program's
Excellence
By Michael Hoffer
 YARMOUTH—While
the two-time defending Class C state champion
Yarmouth football program was sad to see coach
Jim Hartman depart back in February when he accepted
the Portland High job, it doesn't figure to miss
a beat with the promotion of Chris Pingitore to
the head position.
Pingitore has been a big part
of the program since the very beginning and has
done a little bit of everything over the past
decade. It's only fitting that he'll now lead
the Clippers into a new era.
Pingitore, who is Dr. Chris Pingitore,
a podiatrist, in real life, didn't expect to become
a head coach this quickly, but the opportunity
presented itself.
"I thought maybe I'd be a
head coach later on in my medical career,"
Pingitore said. "I had a feeling when the
Portland job came open that Jim might go. I was
actually going to step down, but my wife and I
decided to throw my hat in the ring for continuity.
It seems like just yesterday the program started.
I've watched it grow and have been at Jim's side.
Ten years later, look where we are. It's come
full circle."
Pingitore is a football lifer.
He grew up near Buffalo, N.Y., and played running
back and cornerback in high school before attending
SUNY-Fredonia on a track scholarship. Before going
to medical school, Pingitore worked as an athletic
trainer, coached at his old high school and was
the assistant team physician at Youngstown State
while doing his residency.
After moving to Yarmouth, Pingitore
casually inquired about the quality of the town's
football program and was surprised at the answer.
"Tim Planer, who's from California,
is one of the first people I met in town,"
Pingitore said. "I asked, 'how good is the
football team?" He told me, 'Yarmouth doesn't
have football.' We said, 'well that's going to
change.'"
When Pingitore's son, Nate, began
the fifth grade, the Yarmouth football program
got off the ground. Initially, Pingitore wanted
to serve as a medical and strength advisor, but
he was introduced as the youth coach at the first
meeting.
"I couldn't back out,"
Pingitore said.
While few could have imagined
how good the Clippers would become, Pingitore
made a bold prediction.
"The very first day we had
practice, there were seven youth and seven high
school players," he said. "I told them
if they stayed with the program, we'd win a championship
by Nate's senior year (2010). I knew it was possible
with all the athletic talent here."
It took five years for Yarmouth
to become a varsity program, a year sooner than
Pingitore expected. Pingitore served as an offensive
coordinator, running back coach, defensive backs
coach, special teams coach and strength and conditioning
coach as the Clippers overcame 19 losses in their
first 20 varsity games to become the state's premier
Class C program.
Sure enough, as Pingitore predicted
once upon a time, Yarmouth won the 2010 championship
and did it again last fall. The Clippers have
won 24 straight games and 32 of their last 33
contests, most in emphatic fashion.
"What was a surprise was
getting beat up the first couple years,"
Pingitore said. "I'm not surprised how we
did the third year and winning two state championships.
I think our coaching staff is second to none."
Hartman feels that Pingitore will
have little trouble keeping Yarmouth at the top.
"Chris is a good choice,"
said Hartman. "He's a very good football
guy. He's very smart with a great memory and he
has the ability to bring that to the kids. They
respond very well to him. I really counted on
him with scouting. He has an almost photographic
memory. He remembers all the details. He's a hard
worker. The biggest thing is his knowledge of
the game. He's been around it all his life."
Pingitore said he plans to retain
most of Hartman's coaching staff. He also suggested
that the average fan won't notice much difference
next fall.
"Jim and I were on the same
page offensively," Pingitore said. "Half
the offense was his. Half was mine. My job was
to make up plays on the fly. You may see a little
more innovation, but the base offense and defense
will be the same."
Yarmouth athletic director Susan
Robbins is pleased with the hire.
"We are very happy to promote
Chris," said Robbins. "Chris was one
of the founders of Yarmouth football, so it is
certainly fitting to have him take over the program
being so heavily involved since the inception.
Chris is very well respected in our school community
and the student-athletes adore him. I strongly
believe that Chris is the best fit as far as providing
a seamless transition. Chris is highly knowledgeable
about the specifics of the offense and defense
that have made our program so successful. I am
confident that the program will continue to thrive
under his leadership."
It won't be long until August
arrives and another football season is upon us.
The Yarmouth Clippers will be looking for another
Gold Ball and it won't be wise to bet against
them.
"I'm looking forward to it,"
said Pingitore. "I hope to have numbers in
the 30s, approaching 40. We've got fantastic kids
coming up. The sophomore class is incredible.
The kids are putting in time in the weight room.
It's a tight group." |
