Local News
Purple Eagles Football Program Honors Coaches
Pictured (l-r): Coach Patrick Holman; Coach Keith Piccirilli; and Coach Mark VanDerKarr.
At the last Albion regular season home football game, the players and the crowd saw three very familiar faces on the sidelines. The three varsity football coaches who retired from coaching at the end of last season were recognized for their amazing contribution to the Purple Eagles football program. The impact that these three men collectively made to the program is unmeasurable. Together, the coaches represented 96 years of football coaching experience, teaching and influencing the lives of hundreds of students.
Patrick Holman coached Varsity Football for 28 years. He was a Junior Varsity Football coach for five years and also coached modified wrestling for 33 years. He retired last year from both teaching science in the Middle School and coaching. Coach Holman said, “Character isn’t inherited. One builds it daily by the way one thinks, acts, thought by thought, action by action.”
Keith Piccirilli spent the last 33 years as the Assistant Varsity Football coach. During those years he coached the offensive and defensive line, linebackers, tight ends and special teams. Coach Piccirilli currently teaches Social Studies in the Middle School and is in his 33 year as the Varsity Wrestling coach. Coach Piccirilli said, “I hope that I was able to create a positive experience for all the young men I had the privilege to coach.”
Mark VanDerKarr coached the offensive and defensive line for 30 years as an Assistant Coach. During his 30 years of coaching football, he has had the opportunity to coach at each level of the program. Although, he retired from coaching football at the end of the 2013-2014 season, he continues to teach science at the high school level. Coach VanDerKarr said, “Firstly I would like to thank all of the coaches I have worked with for their hard work and dedication. I would also like to thank my former players and their parents for making my time coaching so productive and enjoyable.”
Each of the coaches received a plaque with the following inscription: “In appreciation of your endless hours of commitment to the Albion Football Program over the past three decades. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience with us.”