Andy Pitts leaves Helias for job in Minnesota

The opportunity was too good to pass up.

Andy Pitts, who has served as defensive coordinator for the Helias football team for the past four years, has accepted a position as an assistant coach at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn.

"I'm super excited," Pitts said. "I've been thinking about college coaching for a while and this is a dream come true."

Pitts decided to look to the college ranks after he didn't get the head coaching position at Helias.

"I really am grateful for everything Helias has done for me, but with the changes going on, this seemed like a good time to see what was out there," Pitts said.

Pitts reached out to several college contacts, including St. Thomas defensive coordinator Wallie Kuchinski. Kuchinski was the defensive line coach at Truman State when Pitts played for the Bulldogs from 2002-06.

"I went up there and I hit it off with all of the coaches," Pitts said. "They have a nice following, the town supports them, they have great facilities."

Glenn Caruso just completed his sixth season as head coach at St. Thomas and has a career record of 65-10. St. Thomas played for the Division III national title in 2012, losing to Mount Union.

Pitts will coach cornerbacks at the school, which was 8-3 last season and lost in the first round of the national playoffs. He coached cornerbacks for his first four seasons as an assistant at Helias before becoming defensive coordinator.

"I feel like I'm very prepared for this," Pitts said. "I had to see the big picture of the defense. That was a good stepping stone for me to learn and grow.

"Now going back to being a position coach, I get to focus on a smaller portion of things and I'm excited for that."

Pitts, 31, is a graduate of Helias as well as having played and coached at the school.

"It's sad to be going, but I'm happy to get this opportunity," he said. "I've lived in central Missouri my whole life and I've loved it.

"But it's a big world out there and I haven't seen much of it and this seemed like a good start to doing that."

Pitts' last day at Helias was Tuesday. St. Thomas starts spring practice April 12 and Pitts will join the other coaches in preparation for that starting Monday.

"They need me up there to get my feet wet before practice begins," he said.

St. Thomas, which has more than 10,000 students, is a member of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.