Westfield State Names Pete Kowalski Head Football Coach
Pete Kowalski has been officially named the head football coach at Westfield State University. Kowalski, a longtime Westfield State assistant coach, had been named the interim head coach this past December after Steve Marino announced his retirement after coaching the Owls for 24 seasons. Kowalski becomes the first full-time head coach in the 33-year history of the Westfield State varsity football program.
Courtesy of Westfield State Sports Information
WESTFIELD, Mass. - Pete
Kowalski has been officially named the head
football coach at Westfield State University.
Kowalski, a longtime Westfield State assistant coach, had
been named the interim head coach this past December after Steve
Marino announced his retirement after coaching the Owls for 24
seasons. Kowalski becomes the first full-time head coach in the
33-year history of the Westfield State varsity football
program.
Once the position was elevated from part-time to full-time
status, Westfield State University athletics
director Richard Lenfeststated that
the search committee did not have to look very far to find its head
coach.
"I am pleased to announce Pete
Kowalski as the first full-time football
coach in program history," Lenfest said. "Pete is a role model for
our football program who has excellent values and is a consummate
educator. Pete has the respect of our student-athletes and he has
distinguished himself as a top defensive coordinator in the region.
He has been extremely loyal to Westfield State and I know he's
excited to take over the program, and I'm looking forward to him
leading our program."
"I am eager and excited to begin this new era in Westfield
State football," said Kowalski, a member of the Westfield State
coaching staff for the past 18 seasons. "The selection process
allowed me the opportunity to crystalize in my mind what I wanted
this program to be. Coach Marino made being a head coach look easy;
I know that there is going to be a learning curve but I think that
being here for 18 seasons has shortened that process. In addition,
I have a mature, experienced staff with head coaching experience
that can make this transition successful."
Kowalski had been elevated to associate head coach nine years
ago and served as Westfield State's defensive coordinator with an
emphasis on linebackers, He was the architect of the Owls'
outstanding defense that led the nation in total defense in 2001
and 2002, and in 2009 they led the nation in turnover margin and
pass efficiency defense.
Prior to his arrival at Westfield in 1996, Kowalski coached
for 14 years at Bulkeley High School in Hartford, Conn., and was
the defensive coordinator for six seasons. Bulkeley was a state
finalist in 1991 and had one of the top defenses in the state,
allowing 5.4 points per game. In 1992 the Hartford school was
ranked second in the state.
.
Kowalski has a wealth of coaching experience. He served as a
track and field coach at Bulkeley from 1985-2013, including the
past 19 years as head coach. He also coached the girls' basketball
team at Minnechaug High School in hometown of Wilbraham.
"My heart is a teacher's heart and I will continue to
emphasis the importance of the educational experience at Westfield
State University. I am looking forward to be working with
student-athletes – there is a reason the student comes
first," Kowalski said. "The basic belief of my philosophy will not
change whether I am the associate head coach or the head coach -
full-time or part-time- I believe that coaching is teaching and
that will remain as a constant."
Kowalski graduated from West Springfield High School in 1972
and participated in football, basketball and track and field. He
played a year of football and lacrosse at UMass Amherst and
graduated in 1977 with a health and physical education degree. He
taught health and physical education in the Hartford schools for
the past 34 years.