Tim Pierleoni knows how much work he has is in front of him and
his players as they begin the process of laying out the foundation
for a football program.
But with just a week of practices under his players’ belts,
Pierleoni, the first-ever head football coach at Christopher High,
doesn’t shy away from talking about the lofty goals he has in mind.
While many of those goals revolve around things he wants his team
to achieve inside the lines, almost as many have to do with conduct
outside the lines.
”
We want to present a program and image that’s not just good but
great,
”
Pierleoni said.
”
We want people to say, ‘I want to be part of that program.’
”
GILROY – Tim Pierleoni knows how much work he has is in front of him and his players as they begin the process of laying out the foundation for a football program.
But with just a week of practices under his players’ belts, Pierleoni, the first-ever head football coach at Christopher High, doesn’t shy away from talking about the lofty goals he has in mind. While many of those goals revolve around things he wants his team to achieve inside the lines, almost as many have to do with conduct outside the lines.
“We want to present a program and image that’s not just good but great,” Pierleoni said. “We want people to say, ‘I want to be part of that program.'”
If going strictly by the numbers, the Cougars should be thrilled with the early interest. Practicing on a stretch of grass that measures the length of three football fields, 87 players have signed up to play junior varsity and freshman football this season. (The JV team will feature 35 players and 52 will suit up for the freshman squad.)
While most players have little to no football experience, the willingness to learn has been exceptional, Pierleoni said.
“It’s a matter of progressing slowly and them understanding everything we’re trying to put in,” he said.
With 12 coaches on staff, Pierleoni and company are emphasizing the teaching aspect of the game as he installs the “fly” offense and a defense known as the “double-eagle flex.” Each day is presenting a new challenge to all involved, keeping the excitement level high.
“It feels like you’re starting something new, a new tradition,” said sophomore Mike Pirnick, who will be playing fullback and defensive end fro the JV team this season. “There’s a lot of pressure on your shoulders to start off new. I don’t expect a lot, but I expect we try our best on the field.”
Pierleoni, who has coached football in Gilroy for more than 25 years and most recently helped launch the 8-man football program at Anchorpoint Christian School in 2006, is also stressing to his players to put forth that same effort away from the game.
“We’re not just talking about getting better on the football field,” he said. “We’re talking about getting better in the classroom, being better sons, brothers and people in general.
“I don’t know how good we’ll be (this season), but I know they’ll be good kids.”
Running back/linebacker Nick Slater, who, like Pirnick, is a sophomore that came to CHS after spending his freshman year at Gilroy High, echoed his coach’s thoughts on the uncertainty of how good the Cougars will be in Year One.
“I just expect us to get better every day,” Slater said. “If everyone works hard, we should.”
Slater, Pirnick and other sophomores on the team will be part of the first graduating class at CHS in 2012. The long process of building a winner by that time is something to consider, Slater said. But not for long.
“I think about it a little bit, knowing you’re gonna be the first graduating class,” he said, “but we’re just focusing on what’s happening now.”
Note: CHS will take part in a scrimmage at 4 p.m. on Aug. 29 at North Salinas. Other schools participating in the “jamboree” are GHS, Hollister and the host school. The Cougars will play their first real game in school history Thursday, Sept. 3 at Gilroy High against Scotts Valley.
