Sam Pagano set standard for family's rich coaching legacy
Posted: January 31, 2012 at 1:57 pm
Those close to Sam Pagano wonder if there is room to cram anything more about football into his mind, life or daily routine. Even with an already-packed football portfolio, including 21 years as coach at Fairview High School in Boulder, Pagano now has to find room to keep track of the Indianapolis Colts.
That's because Chuck Pagano, Sam's older son, was recently named coach of the Colts. Sam Pagano is going to be more than just an interested observer. He's a grandfather, but he's not in any rocking chair when it comes to keeping up with his boys.
In Sam Pagano's case, the task is twofold. John Pagano, Sam's younger son, was recently named defensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers.
"I stay abreast of what's going
University of Denver Men's Football Coach John Roning with Sam Pagano #68. Sam Pagano is the subject of a Colorado Classic column. He's a former coach at Fairview High School. His son Chuck Pagano as just named head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. John Leyba, The Denver Post
on with them," Pagano said. "I like to watch practice sessions, and my wife (Diana) and I have watched both of their teams quite a bit. When Chuck was coaching with the Baltimore Ravens, I was able to sit in on some of their team meetings. We look at it as showing support."
Sam Pagano's passion for football blossomed when he was at Pueblo Central High School and playing for Sollie Rasso. His high school coach was a mentor, and Sam carried Rasso's counseling with him throughout his career.
After Pueblo Central, Pagano continued his playing career at the University of Denver, where he was a linebacker and guard for coach John Roning. DU dropped football after the 1960 season, a year after Pagano departed.
"I went to the first tryout camp the Denver Broncos had out at Colorado School of Mines," Pagano said of his immediate time after college. "I tried out as a kicker but was cut before the first preseason game. I didn't get to wear the striped socks."
The first Broncos uniforms featured vertically striped socks that were widely ridiculed throughout pro football. With the quick exit from the Broncos camp, Pagano turned to his lifelong ambition. He had known from an early age that he wanted to coach. After assistant coaching stops at Adams State College in Alamosa and Boulder High School, Pagano moved to Fairview High School in 1969 as head coach.
While there, he coached both of his sons. Chuck Pagano went on to the University of Wyoming after high school, and John Pagano moved on to Mesa State in Grand Junction.
"It was easy coaching them in high school," Sam Pagano said. "I was involved more with the offense, and they both played quite a bit on defense. It was more nerve-wracking watching them playing in college."
While at Fairview, Sam Pagano helped develop one of the top programs in the state. The Knights won outright state championships in 1979 and 1987 and gained a co-championship with Westminster in 1978. Through the years, Pagano's Fairview team was known for its epic battles with coach Fred Tesone and Cherry Creek.
"It was a great rivalry," Pagano said. "The only problem was Fred won most of them, and he and Cherry Creek got most of the attention."
Tesone called the Fairview game the toughest on Creek's schedule.
"I couldn't sleep the whole week before the Fairview game," he said.
Pagano got his reward in 1987 when the Knights beat the Bruins in the state championship game. Pagano left the football coaching job after the 1989 season and retired from teaching in 1994. His final coaching record was 164-58-4, a mark he attributes to great players and assistant coaches. Two years before he retired from teaching, he joined the growing hotbed for American coaches teaching American football in Europe. His first stop was Bergamo, Italy, and his team in 1994 went 14-1 and was runner-up in the Italian Super Bowl.
"I was ready for something different, and I really wanted to coach in Europe," he said. "We had some language problems, but a lot of the players spoke English, and we got along that way."
After a coaching stop in Taipei, Pagano returned to Europe and coached in Germany and France. He returned to Bergamo in 2002 and closed out his coaching career with a 16-0 team and the Eurobowl Championship.
"I had enough," Pagano said of his tenure. "I still go to Fairview games when I can."
The pace will pick up this fall. His game plan now is scheduling the best times to be in cities such as San Diego and Indianapolis to watch his sons' teams play. And maybe there will be a weekend that Fairview's schedule fills an opening.
After all, one of the country's top football coaching families is headquartered right here in Colorado.
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
Pagano bio
Born: Jan. 2, 1938, in Pueblo
High School: Pueblo Central
College: University of Denver
Family: Wife Diana, daughters Connie, Cathy (deceased), Carrie, Jennifer; sons Chuck, John.
Hobbies: Walking, meeting with friends.
On the schedule: Watching a college game at West Point and the Naval Academy.
See the rest here:
Sam Pagano set standard for family's rich coaching legacy
- The 10 Weight Loss Coaches to Watch in 2021 - GlobeNewswire - February 17th, 2021
- Life coach: Is it really worth the money? - cosmopolitan.com - February 17th, 2021
- Calgary's Henderson rising with Brewers in coaching life - Calgary Sun - February 17th, 2021
- First day of Spring Training gives Cardinals chance to welcome 'pitching strategist' Dusty Blake to coaching staff - KSDK.com - February 17th, 2021
- Carmelo Rodriguez Touches Lives with Moving Stories and Compelling Tales - Thrive Global - February 17th, 2021
- Life after Gronk hasn't been kind to Patriots; can they change that in 2021? - New England Patriots Blog- ESPN - ESPN - February 17th, 2021
- Stoneham mourns the loss of coach Jimmy Carino to COVID-19 - The Boston Globe - February 17th, 2021
- Roots in O-H-I-O: All current FBS head coaches with ties to Ohio State or the state of Ohio - Buckeyes Wire - February 17th, 2021
- New Patient-Centric Clinic Wraps Build in OC - HCO News - Healthcare Construction and Operations News - February 17th, 2021
- Dana Skelton, John Tanner Named Among USOPC Coaches of the Year - Swimming World Magazine - February 17th, 2021
- Where are they now? Mark Martin enjoying less competitive retirement life - NASCAR - February 17th, 2021
- Warriors Steve Kerr recalls meeting with Lute Olson that changed his life - San Francisco Chronicle - February 17th, 2021
- Inclement Weather Results in Another Postponment for Texas Tech and TCU - BCSNN - Best College Sports News Network - February 17th, 2021
- Faces of North County 2021 | Youth Life Coaching - Coast News - January 29th, 2021
- Reaction to the death of Hall of Fame coach John Chaney - USA TODAY - January 29th, 2021
- Diverse coaching backgrounds of Wes Morgan, Ryker Kreutzfeldt play crucial role in Kernel basketball rebirth - The Daily Republic - January 29th, 2021
- Bob Wright remembered as coaching icon, molder of men in Jackson community - MLive.com - January 29th, 2021
- Barnegat Coach Inducted into State Hall of Fame: Honor Extends Further - TAPinto.net - January 29th, 2021
- Giving Teens the Confidence to Thrive - Bethel University News - January 29th, 2021
- SPORTS DIGEST: Cubs, Bears and Blackhawks make moves with coaching staff, rosters - The Times of Northwest Indiana - January 29th, 2021
- Teacher of the Month: McFarland teaching, coaching about life - hays Post - January 29th, 2021
- Girls on the Run of Southwest IN Spring Coaching Opportunities - The Herald - January 29th, 2021
- Mater Dei Graduate Named to the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame - Herald Pubs - January 29th, 2021
- Wow! The maker scene has brought us a functional Batman grappling hook - The American Genius - January 29th, 2021
- Oregon Ducks assistant Keith Heyward leaving the program - The Register-Guard - January 29th, 2021
- Leo Gura - Growing In Times Of Crisis - January 10th, 2021
- Revere Baseball Leagues Honors the Life of Coach Kevin Cummings - Revere Journal - October 28th, 2020
- Whoop, maker of the fitness tracker that pro athletes love, is now valued at $1.2 billion - CNBC - October 28th, 2020
- Addressing the inefficiencies in the Productivity Tools - EnterpriseTalk - October 28th, 2020
- Parenting coach releasing book to help parents with teens - Your Valley - October 28th, 2020
- Local Event: Debs' Vocalist Showcase & Benefit for the Innocence Project - Patch.com - October 28th, 2020
- Coaches' Corner with Scott Smith - The Stokes News - October 28th, 2020
- Maryland University of Integrative Health's health and wellness coaching program approved by NBHWC Wall Street Call - Reported Times - October 28th, 2020
- A tip of the hat to my old football coach - Gonzales Inquirer - October 28th, 2020
- Little ready to bring the energy: Former Sierra player joins CSU Pueblo women's basketball program as assistant coach - Pueblo Chieftain - October 28th, 2020
- Nebraska had plenty of talent in 1970, but their coaches made the Huskers go the distance - Omaha World-Herald - October 28th, 2020
- Profile of An American Family in 2020: How to Pay Child Care Bills - Fatherly - October 28th, 2020
- Hutchinson High School 2020 Wall of Fame inductees share pride, achievements - Crow River Media - October 28th, 2020
- Another example surfaces of abuse of Black players by white coaches - The Undefeated - October 28th, 2020
- The Top 10 Pinterest Coaches and Strategists to Follow - GlobeNewswire - October 28th, 2020
- A financial coach who's worked with hundreds of clients says 3 things helped her build her own wealth - Business Insider - October 28th, 2020
- What Its *Really* Like to Work with a Life Coach, According to One Advertising Exec and Working Mom - PureWow - October 27th, 2020
- The NFL Head Coach Life Span And What It Means For Zimmer - Vikings Territory - October 27th, 2020
- Former Jackson-area basketball coach remembered as man of character, compassionate leader - MLive.com - October 27th, 2020
- Degrees, business and books, nothing stops this man - Eastern Arizona Courier - October 27th, 2020
- Where to Find Clarity and Relief During Life's Most Troubling Moments - WTMJ-TV - October 27th, 2020
- Robust client relationships focus on wealth and health - InvestmentNews - October 27th, 2020
- I didnt think my vote counted: Why Bradley Beal is voting for the first time - The Undefeated - October 27th, 2020
- 4 Skills that Miami Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra Used to Go from the Dungeon to the Corner Office - Entrepreneur - October 27th, 2020
- The role of a CEO in driving diversity and change - Insurance Business NZ - October 27th, 2020
- MAKING THE JUMP: Rachel Hays set to open coaching business - Columbus Telegram - October 27th, 2020
- Colby College opens athletic and recreation center on its Waterville, Maine, campus - American School & University - October 27th, 2020
- Life coaching with Khabib: Dapper UFC star reveals he is releasing a course to teach people 'how to be a champ in life & business' - RT - September 17th, 2020
- Stroke Survivor Pivots Life Purpose to Empower Others and Embrace Their New Normal - Yahoo Finance - September 17th, 2020
- Cylient Launches Global and Collaborative Digital Learning Version of Coaching in the Moment Training - Daily Record-News - September 17th, 2020
- Remembering the life, legacy of Ed Pepple through those he impacted: SBLive Washington podcast - scorebooklive.com - September 17th, 2020
- Life Without Jimmy, Wolves Coaches Being Interviewed and Draft Talk - Zone Coverage - September 17th, 2020
- Kopping fulfills football dreams by coaching youth teams - Ashland Daily Press - September 17th, 2020
- Looking back on a life filled with basketball games and good times - Greensboro News & Record - September 17th, 2020
- Indianapolis life coach launches first emotional well-being app for and by women of color - IndyStar - September 17th, 2020
- 'It's much bigger than any of the sports we have' | Why some parents and coaches agree with youth sports ban - KSDK.com - September 17th, 2020
- Reaching Out to Others - coastalbreezenews.com - September 17th, 2020
- Mind Your Garden -- The Seeds You Plant Today Become the Realities of Tomorrow - PRNewswire - September 17th, 2020
- REVEALED: Aussie coach Doug Frost's Olympic Relay Plan That Sank The US On A Dramatic Opening Day In Sydney - Swimming World Magazine - September 17th, 2020
- Service goal: 'Improve their overall life' - Pendleton Times-Post - September 17th, 2020
- Ed Pepple, Hall of Fame Mercer Island basketball coach, dies at age 88 - Sports and Weather Right Now - September 17th, 2020
- At the heart of the matter, sister inspires Charlie Weis Jr.'s coaching climb - Notre Dame Insider - September 17th, 2020
- 30 K12 IT Influencers Worth a Follow in 2020 - EdTech Magazine: Focus on Higher Education - September 17th, 2020
- 2 women killed in U.S. 10 crash remembered for their loving ways - mlive.com - September 9th, 2020
- Need a job? Amazon seeks to fill 33,000 openings on Career Day 2020 - pennlive.com - September 9th, 2020
- Living a life of contentment | McFarland Thistle - The Cambridge News - September 9th, 2020
- Shes Using Hypnotherpay to Help Her Clients Create Change in Their Lives - The Story Exchange - September 9th, 2020
- The Remarkable Life and Times of Dr. Tom House - Sports Illustrated - September 9th, 2020
- Billy Martin needed time away after his father's death. Now, he's back coaching at Moore - Courier Journal - September 9th, 2020
- Bucs' Leonard Fournette: For the first time in my life, I really have a quarterback' - ABC Action News - September 9th, 2020
- Alton Dressel - The Daily Iberian - September 9th, 2020
- 4 Questions to Help Women Navigate the Second Half of Their Careers - Harvard Business Review - September 9th, 2020
- A Conversation With the ISU Soccer Coach - ISU Bengal Online - September 9th, 2020
- Former WNBA Player Crystal Robinson Always Wanted To Be A Coach - Sep 8, 2020 - Sports Are From Venus - September 9th, 2020
- How the Raptors 'scout team' is adjusting to life inside the NBA's bubble - The Athletic - September 9th, 2020