Pacifico reaches dream at Reynolds

Jerry Pacifico believed he was destined to become head coach of the Reynolds High School football team.

He waited a long time to obtain his desire and last month the Reynolds High School Board issued its stamp of approval to hire the former Raiders football standout as the school’s new football coach. Pacifico is hoping this time, he’s at Reynolds for the duration.

Pacifico replaces former head coach Tim Scarvel who was released last season after refusing to cross the picket line during the school’s teacher’s strike.

The new Raiders coach was a tremendous linebacker for four years under Frank Amato. Pacifico credits Amato with a lot of his football savvy, saying he learned a lot about football and the game of life. After having him as his head coach for just one year, Pacifico knew that he wanted to be a football coach in later life.

Pacifico went on to say that Amato had all the traits of an outstanding coach including a remarkable spirit, drive and ambition. Pacifico was one of the greats during Amato’s successful tenure in the school’s football program. The new Raider coach called it the “Reynolds Tradition” and he is hopeful of returning that same pride to the school’s current grid program.

Youngstown State University football fans will remember Pacifico’s antics on the football field. He played four years of football at linebacker under Bill Narduzzi and Jim Tressel. He is still in the Penguins record books as the fourth leading tackler in the school’s history with 443.

Upon graduation from YSU. he decided give semi-pro football a shot and played with the Shenano Valley Blasters for three years. He later was honored as a player-coach for TEAM USA while playing in England in 1992.

He returned to Reynolds as an offensive back and defensive end coach for Amato for one season. He then became an assistant at Thiel College under Charlie Giangrasso and then shifted back to Reynolds under Roger Shoaff. He also was an assistant under Jim Bell at Hickory for three years and later an assistant to Jason McElhaney at West Middlesex.

Pacifico has worked with teenagers most of his adult life. For 14 years, he has been working at Keystone Adolescent Center where he is the program director. He has gained invaluable experience working with youngsters and right now he wants to get to work. He says he’s a couple of months behind and has already started his players working in the weight room.

In addition, he is busy putting a staff together. First things first.

Congratulations coach and good luck.

Titans get PAC awards

The Presidents’ Athletic Conference recently honored two Westminster College basketball players with weekly awards.

Sophomore forward Ryne Murray was named PAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week and senior guard/forward Emilee Ackerman was named PAC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week.

Murray scored 25 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out six assists in the Titans’ 65-58 victory over Thiel. He shot 83.3 percent from the field (10-12) including a jumper with 13 seconds remaining in the game to seal the win.

Ackerman averaged 32 points and 10 rebounds per game, while leading the Titans to wins at Chatham, 81-70 and a 69-46 victory over Thiel.

She tied a career high with 33 points at Chatham and for the week shot 57.5 percent (23-40) from the field and 78.3 percent from the free-throw line (18-23).

Thanks to those two 30-point games that week, Ackerman was rated third in the nation in scoring with a 22.5 point-per-game average.

Just the other day, Ackerman received more honors when she was named to the 2007-08 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Women’s Basketball Team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors.

She earned second team honors for the College Division to become the 22nd student-athlete in Westminster history to earn Academic All-America honors dating to 1967 and the first since 2005. She carries a 3.53 grade-point average.