Apparently, Phil Jackson is not the only coach in the area going out on top.
Jerry Pagnani, whose Fremd Vikings won the Class AA boys soccer title last season, decided to call it quits as a head coach after 23 years. He’s handing the reins over to Steve Keller, 26, his assistant from last season.
“We’re going to reverse roles,” says Pagnani, who started his career in 1975 at Hoffman Estates and transferred to Fremd in 1980. There he won state titles in 1984 and 1997. “I’ve been thinking about this the last seven or eight years. It’s time to back off and let some younger kid take over.”
Pagnani’s team was highly ranked most of last season, but made a surprising run to the first Class AA title. A 2-0 victory in the title game lifted Pagnani’s career record to 314-123-55.
“It’s very stressful, a program like we had,” says Pagnani, who will be 49 Sept. 9. “Every year you’ve got to produce.”
As an assistant coach, Pagnani says he’ll be able to spend more time with his son, Christopher, a 14-year-old freshman at Fremd.