Pitts takes over St. Joseph Central football program

Phil Pitts stands on the sideline during a game against Hannibal in the 2014 season at Adkins Stadium.
Phil Pitts stands on the sideline during a game against Hannibal in the 2014 season at Adkins Stadium.

Phil Pitts is ready to embrace the next challenge. And that challenge is at St. Joseph Central High School.

"St. Joe Central is the right fit," Pitts said Wednesday, one day after he was introduced as the head football coach at the school. "It's a program that has a lot of positives and is the right place for us.

"I'm very excited about this opportunity."

Pitts was 40-15 in four years as head coach at Helias High School, leaving after the 2014 season to accept a position as defensive analyst at the University of Missouri. Helias won four consecutive district championships and made two Class 4 state title game appearances under Pitts.

Pitts spent the 2015 season with the Tigers before a shakeup on the staff due to the departure of head coach Gary Pinkel.

Pitts thought about coaching positions in both high school and college.

"Jefferson City has been home to myself and my wife and our families, the decision to leave was one we thought hard about," he said.

St. Joseph is a kind of second home for Pitts. His father grew up there and he has a lot of extended family in the area.

"I've got a lot of aunts and uncles in the area, there's going to be a good support system," Pitts said.

Central, a Class 5 school, posted winning records from 2011-13 before winning a combined seven games in the past two seasons. Central was 4-7 in 2015.

"They were in a lot of football games last year, the record doesn't necessarily show what kind of season it was for them," Pitts said. "There are a lot of good players and good coaches up here. There are a lot of things in place right now that will help us get done what we need to get done.

"I'm going to try to be a shot in the arm, someone who can lead this program to the next level."

Central ran a spread offense last year, very similar to what Helias ran under Pitts.

"I believe in multi-formational," he said. "I believe that's important in football. "You have to be able to do a lot of things playing to the strengths of your team that year."

Pitts wore lots of hats at Helias - serving stints as offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator and head coach. He isn't sure if he will be a coordinator at Central.

"The greatest thing a head coach can do is see the strengths of his staff and build them to be the best," Pitts said. "I'll make the decision off what I think the staff will need to be at its best and place myself in what is best for the program."

Pitts believes he is a better football coach after his time at Missouri.

"I've learned from dealing with a lot of great coaches," he said. "The opportunity to work with some of the best people in the coaching business have helped me immensely and will bring to this job."

Pitts met with his players for the first time Tuesday.

"I told them we are going to work hard and we are going to build a winner," he said. "I want to have a great relationship with the players, I'm looking forward to getting to know them."

Central is a member of the Greater Kansas City Suburban Conference. In the last district cycle, Central was paired with schools such as Liberty, Liberty North, Park Hill and Staley.

"There are a lot of quality teams in this area," Pitts said. "I want to challenge our team to be among the best in the area,"

Pitts will work as a substitute teacher at Central through the end of the school year.

Related media:

St. Joseph Central's release announcing Pitts as football coach

Spotted on Twitter: St. Joe Central welcomes Phil Pitts