New coaches fill the sidelines in junior, senior highs

by Dillon Cooper

There are many new faces walking the sidelines wearing Pittsford Blue, from volleyball to football to basketball, and everywhere in between.

Mr. Curtis, who is a geometry and Algebra II teacher, will be the 7th grade boys basketball coach in the winter here in Pittsford. Mr. Curtis said that this is the first time in 18 years that he will be coaching basketball, though he does have varsity experience. Mr. Curtis definitely realizes that there will be a hurdle to jump over in his quest to be a great coach and teach J.H. basketball players the key fundamentals that will lead them to a very productive season in Mr. Curtis’s mind.

Mr. Burger is the Defensive Coordinator for the Wildcats’ great varsity football team after being the JV coach for a while. He is looking forward to the rest of the season. “I am just learning as much as I can about the system and how Mr. Clement coaches his team,” Burger said. Mr. Burger realizes that there are many challenges to his job, also. “This is a bigger challenge, and is more difficult, but also exciting, too,” said Mr. Burger. When the spot came open due to Mr. Cook’s being hired as high school principal, it didn’t take long for Mr. Burger to decide whether he wanted to apply for the open position. “Varsity is the pinnacle and it’s where every coach wants to be… there is nothing like a Friday night football game!”

Mrs. Clement and Mrs. Saunders are the new junior high volleyball coaches. Mrs. Clement is teaching the fundamentals and getting to know how the players are. “There is a lot to teach at the junior high level. There is even more time needed to coach the girls and it is very challenging to work with the girls individually,” explained Mrs. Clement. This is the first time Mrs. Clement has coached a sport, ever. She had always wanted to get involved with a sport after school. This isn’t Mrs. Saunders’ first rodeo, however, as she has been a coach in Jackson teaching volleyball. The biggest challenge that Mrs. Saunders is going to have to overcome is that she has to teach the fundamentals of the game to the girls. “Because we don’t have a fifth grade volleyball team or a sixth grade volleyball team most of the girls have a hard time doing some of the skills you need, because they have never been taught this before,” explained Mrs. Saunders. Mrs. Saunders loves working with her girls and teaching them the mechanics that they will need in the future when they get older and move up in the next levels.

Mr. Clark is the new J.V. football coach and Offensive Coordinator here at Pittsford High School. Last year Mr. Clark was the head coach and Offensive Coordinator for the junior high football team. Mr. Clark took this job offer because he loves football and there is definitely a much greater intensity and level of physicality on the JV level opposed to the Jr. High level. Mr. Clark will continue to be a coach here until he loses his drive, passion and enthusiasm about the game he loves.

There are many new faces new places for the Pittsford Wildcats. Coaching any sport at any level is a challenge especially if you are a newcomer and these coaches acknowledge this. There is no doubt that they will do their best to make sure that the players can reach their potential and play the best game that they can play!