Pisano steps down as Hawks coach
March 02, 2012 10:35 PM
Louie Pisano came out of retirement on short notice, filling the coaching vacancy for the Gila Ridge boys basketball team when the Hawks needed a head coach quick.
While his intention was never to coach the Hawks just for one season, it became more and more evident to him that he just didn't have it in him to be a full-time coach anymore.
Pisano told Gila Ridge athletic director Derek Bosch about his plans to step down in December, a move that be came official when the season ended last month.
“The school was great, the kids were great, I was treated really good,” Pisano said. “It was just that I didn't want to put in all the work you have to do in the summer. You have to have practice a couple hours a day, your weekends are taken up. I just thought maybe it was best a young guy comes in who has all that energy, because I'm kind of looking forward to enjoying myself in the summer and not working that hard.”
Last year, Pisano was an assistant at Yuma Catholic. He had been head coach with both Yuma High (2003-2009) and Kofa (1992-2003).
Pisano said he never intended on such a short stint with the Hawks, who missed the playoffs this year.
“I felt as the year went on I'd have to put in a lot of work in the summer,” Pisano said. “I started to think maybe this was not the best thing for me, that I think a younger guy should come in and do more work in the summer.”
Pisano was officially hired as coach in October. He replaced Bosch, who had been the only boys basketball coach in the school's history until he took the athletic director job in September. Now the Hawks will have three coaches in three season.
Bosch said he hopes to have Pisano's replacement before the summer starts.
“We would have liked to have had coach Pisano for as long as he wanted to be here,” Bosch said. “He did a good job with the kids this year. We had a decent season. I know coach and the guys wanted to make sectionals and state, and they fell just short of that, but I like working with coach Pisano. I wish he would have wanted to stay a little longer, but he decided it was best for him to step down.”
While his intention was never to coach the Hawks just for one season, it became more and more evident to him that he just didn't have it in him to be a full-time coach anymore.
Pisano told Gila Ridge athletic director Derek Bosch about his plans to step down in December, a move that be came official when the season ended last month.
“The school was great, the kids were great, I was treated really good,” Pisano said. “It was just that I didn't want to put in all the work you have to do in the summer. You have to have practice a couple hours a day, your weekends are taken up. I just thought maybe it was best a young guy comes in who has all that energy, because I'm kind of looking forward to enjoying myself in the summer and not working that hard.”
Last year, Pisano was an assistant at Yuma Catholic. He had been head coach with both Yuma High (2003-2009) and Kofa (1992-2003).
Pisano said he never intended on such a short stint with the Hawks, who missed the playoffs this year.
“I felt as the year went on I'd have to put in a lot of work in the summer,” Pisano said. “I started to think maybe this was not the best thing for me, that I think a younger guy should come in and do more work in the summer.”
Pisano was officially hired as coach in October. He replaced Bosch, who had been the only boys basketball coach in the school's history until he took the athletic director job in September. Now the Hawks will have three coaches in three season.
Bosch said he hopes to have Pisano's replacement before the summer starts.
“We would have liked to have had coach Pisano for as long as he wanted to be here,” Bosch said. “He did a good job with the kids this year. We had a decent season. I know coach and the guys wanted to make sectionals and state, and they fell just short of that, but I like working with coach Pisano. I wish he would have wanted to stay a little longer, but he decided it was best for him to step down.”
