Jason Pithie for Norwell Football Coaching Staff 2017

Great coach. Better man...

I just wanted to take a moment to thank each and every one of you that signed this petition or provided comments. I also owe a special thank you to Mike Smith who put this together. You will never know how much it meant to me and my family to receive your support and read your kind words. When the decision was ultimately made that I would not be allowed to have ANY role with the Norwell High School football team, I was crushed. This town, these kids, and this program mean the world to me. Coaching is a big part of who I am and last year sitting and watching the games it reiterated for me that I need coaching in my life. I did everything that was asked of me to “improve my image” (I didn’t know it was bad in the first place) but ultimately it was not enough. I don't agree with the decision to not allow me to help and VOLUNTEER in our town but unfortunately there are people that don't like me and feel the need to privately ensure that I cannot continue my passion in this Town. Although everyone is entitled to their opinion, I just wish that those people that don't support me would just talk to me, tell me what they are concerned about and I would be happy to do all I can to allay their concerns. I coached because I love it. I coached in Norwell because I love this town and even more so the kids in the program. Watching them grow from boys into young men is truly amazing and inspiring. All I ever wanted to do was to help that process along. I didn't want to be the head coach (as we have a great one), or even a paid coach (as we have great ones there already as well), I just wanted to help. It really is devastating that a small faction of our Town will not allow me to do that. It is important for me to share that because coaching has been an important part of my life even before Norwell Youth Football, I decided to pursue other options. Luckily my great friend Shawn Tarpey at East Bridgewater High School offered me a volunteer spot on his staff. So today

I am new Norwell resident, but have known Jason for over 20 years and have the highest confidence that he would be an outstanding addition to the Norwell coaching staff due to his extensive experience and knowledge of the game but most importantly his ability to connect with and develop players well beyond the game of football. He is genuine and fair, has done what was asked of him by the administration. and has credentials and recommendations that could easily get him a paid coaching position. I would ask that the decision makers please re-consider their decison to ensure that it represents the interests of all.

I first met Jason coaching together in NYF. Jason always put the players’ safety and well-being first. He treats all players, regardless of ability, as if they were his own child. As a parent, there is nothing more important than the safety of your child and that was always priority one for Jason. In the many years that I stood next to him on the sidelines, there wasn’t one player (out of hundreds) that did not respect and enjoy playing for him, not one. We all recall role models from our youth, people that helped shape our future. I can tell you first hand that Jason holds this esteemed honor for many children growing up in Norwell, my son included. It would be an injustice to deny the children this opportunity because of egos or petty politics. I now have the privilege of calling Jason a friend and would do anything to help him achieve this goal. Regardless of whether the team wins, every player will be a better person to be coached by Jason. Isn’t that the one thing we all thrive for and can agree upon? We all want our children to be good people. Let Jason help us do that.

Jason shows incredible dedication to all the kids he coaches. He deserved this opportunity!

Coach Pithee is one of my favorite football coaches. He has helped me improve my skills as a lineman playing offense and defense for Norwell. When I moved from Abington I still had many things to learn, but I soon had almost nothing to learn with the guidance from Coach Pithee. It would be amazing for him to continue to teach me new skills in my high school career as I enter my junior year. It's very hard and impossible to believe that someone would not want him to coach football for the highschool, It's obvious that someone has it out for him. He is going to help us out this season, and I don't care who has beef with Coach Pithee, like it or not he is assisting Coach Conner and The Norwell Clippers.

If these are the reasons Coach Pithie was given then the administration should be ashamed of themselves. Are sending a message that everyone must love the coach or they will be replaced? Are you teaching these young men that they will never have to work with or for someone who won't coddle them and will challenge them? A gutless, pointless and baseless stance to take. Someone needs to put the kids before their own ego.

Jason is highly qualified coaching candidate volunteering his own time. He has shown his dedication to NHS as well as the youth of this town. Football is a sport that demands as many qualified coaches as possible to foster success and safety. We only have to look at our neighbors in Hanover to see proof of the contributions of volunteer coaches under leadership of the school staff.

He deserves to coach and kids deserve to call him coach

Jason has been a friend for many years. Although I have not crossed paths with him in the football world, I can speak to his dedication to sports and athletes of all kinds. I can only assume he would bring the same spirit and support to Norwell boys football!

I am from Duxbury and I have had coach pithie coach me in football and lacrosse he is a great human being and everybody know he loves the sport of football

Please make this happen

This is the person that convinced me (and my mom) to play football back in 6th grade. Without him, and his coaching abilities I definitely wouldn't love the sport as much as I do, and have come as far as I have in progressing in football. I think he should absolutely be a coach for the football program.

Mr. Pithie is a great coach but most importantly he is an even better person. He is a fantastic club lacrosse coach and I'm sure he is a great football coach as well.

Best coach I've ever had. Won many games and it was all because of him!

Played against coach Pithie for years and I never really knew him but I know how much he means to the town

Mr. Pithie would be an outstanding addition to the varsity team. A team cannot be great if some parents/players are more concerned with the man they "know" than the coach he will be. Football is not a sensitive sport, you will get hit and you need to hit! If you can't handle the intensity or would rather your son not play under an intense coach you probably should've picked another sport! What some people don't understand is Mr. Pithie knows the proper drills to put the players through in order to be safer on the field. Anyone who ever played football would understand this! Do not let Mr. Pithie not coach because of personal reasons you may have, at the end of the day there is no "I" in team!

Jason's passion and commitment to the boys is to be commended and we would be grateful and lucky to have him as a volunteer coach of the high school football team.

Jason would be an asset to NHS football. He is an outstanding coach and role model to all players. Please reconsider and allow Jason to volunteer his time to make NHS football an even better program.

NHS and school committee need to move forward and do right for our sports programs, leave the past in the past! There is no reason Jason Pithie should not been given an opportunity to join the football program, STOP making excuses. Jason has been not only been a coach but a mentor for so many of the high school and youth boys. A dedicated family man, Norwell High School alumni and successful business man. The high school football program needs coaches and Jason has offered to volunteer and dedicate his time and efforts to make it one of the best in the league. Please reconsider your decision and allow Jason to assist in coaching this team, the team needs him and the boys respect him and his coaching.