PAYING IT FORWARD

“Preach by example, and practice before the eyes of the young what you wish them to accept.”

-St. John Baptist de La Salle

For nearly 50 years Coach Edd has been behind the scenes of Justin-Siena athletics. His example starts with perhaps the most coveted ability…availability. Not only is Coach Edd always there…he is present to his athletes. Preaching a life of discipline built around “attitude and effort,” he readily and capably draws upon any number of tricks of the trade that all great teachers have. Athletes of any generation will (fondly?) recall performing push-ups to the unpredictable cadence of his whistle, a playful forgetting of the amount of time to hold their planks, and an uncanny ability to demonstrate complex lifts on his own - all of which are embedded over a soundtrack marked by a calm presence, an unexpected joke, and Creedence Clearwater Revival.

What follows is a conversation between Coach Edd and Diano Pachote ’15. It was indeed the example set by Edd that led Diano to have a decorated career as a two sport-star for a pair of NCS championships, and now, to be a colleague, friend, and a shining example of brotherhood embodied.

Coach Edd Ghiringhelli

How did you start at Justin-Siena?

Brother Bertram asked me to look after the football team on the sidelines as a Physical Therapist. That was in 1976, when Scott Heun was a senior. From there I got involved with weight lifting, and when Rich Cotruvo took over, I became the full-time strength coach for the football program.

What keeps you coming back to Justin-Siena?

I enjoy working with the kids here, being a positive mentor, and making an impact on their lives.

The first section championship with Dave Shipp in 1983. We didn’t get back to the title game until the year 2000, and that year we made an unexpected run. We had a great group of seniors with the right chemistry and attitude. We snuck into the playoffs at 5-5 and ended up making a real run for a championship!

Who is your favorite team?

In 2002, we were 1-4 at the bye! We had to win out to make the playoffs and we did! We fought all the way to the championship and even then, we were 28-0 at the half and made it 28-25 before running out of time. Three more minutes and we take it.

What is your biggest thrill as a coach?

Just to see the progression of players from freshman to senior. Seeing the work pay off. Guys like Naufahu Anitoni, Matt Meyer, Steve Shafer come to mind.

What excites you about the future of Justin-Siena?

Working with other teams now. Seeing such emphasis on health and strength and conditioning in all of our sports. Working with diverse teams and athletes. Power is power, no matter the sport or gender.