Pinckney begins coaching search after Gailitis resigns

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PINCKNEY — Brian Wardlow and Jakob Gailitis had talked, periodically, over the season and its aftermath about Gailitis’ attempt to coach the Pinckney football team while working and living in Williamston.

But Wardlow, Pinckney’s athletic director, knew change was coming when Gailitis left a message on his phone Sunday.

“We don’t call each other on the weekends unless something is up, because he wants to spend time with his family, and I want to spend time with mine,” Wardlow said Tuesday night. “I saw the call and I knew something was up.”

Gailitis resigned as coach on Monday after five seasons, citing the time constraints.

“It was a lot further than I thought,” he said of the approximately 30 miles between the districts. “The last thing I wanted to do was to have anything fall behind. I felt I owed it to the community and the people involved to do it correctly and let someone come in and really do it right, especially at a time when we are in transition to the new SEC.

“We have a great thing rolling,” he continued, “and I want the next person to come in and experience success right away. They can do it correctly and be all-in more than I could be, and that’s how I felt.”

Gailitis came to his decision recently, as offseason workouts were beginning to ramp up.

Wardlow, who like Gailitis has a young family, understood.

“It’s another hour in the car, another hour away from his family,” Wardlow said. “Family takes precedence.”

Wardlow, meanwhile, will begin the process of finding a new coach next week, but he already has gotten some feelers.

“It didn’t take long,” he said, chuckling. “The story broke last night and I had two emails this morning, both from coaches in the KLAA.

“I think they see what’s happening here,” Wardlow said. “We have a lot of momentum moving forward. This fall was the best fall we’ve had, across the board (as a program). We had a lot of success and people see it. We’re moving in the right direction, and it’s good to see that.”

But, Wardlow said, Gailitis departure comes at a good time, search-wise.

“We’re not under the gun,” he said. “We’d like to get it done in an efficient time, but we want to make sure we make the right decision.”

As for Gailitis, his schedule has fallen away to include Christmas shopping and finding a day to go sledding with his daughters.

“I’m definitely going to coach again,” he said. “I love the game, and I love what it teaches young men. I think it teaches important lessons to young kids that are needed now more than ever.

“So many people in the Pinckney school district took care of me,” Gailitis added. “It was tough, but it’s part of life. You close one chapter and start another one. Those are relationships I’ll have forever and I’ll look on fondly. I love the community, I love the town, and I love its spirit. I’ll always be a Pirate to an extent.”

 

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