John Pambianchi will be recognized for his dedicated service to the high school’s athletic programs during the RHS Athletic Advisory Council’s Spring Thaw at the Lounsbury House on Thursday, March 26. —Steve Coulter photo
John Pambianchi knows the value of sports.
He experienced it firsthand growing up in Ridgefield and then witnessed it from the sidelines as his sons went through the ranks of playing Pop Warner football as kids to suiting up under the lights of Tiger Hollow for Ridgefield High School.
As much value as is placed on winning the game, Mr. Pambianchi believes there’s even more reward in just being part of the team.
“I think it’s the best thing for a child to be involved in a sports program, whether it’s football or field hockey or lacrosse,” said Mr. Pambianchi, who will be recognized by the high school’s athletic advisory council at its annual Spring Thaw fund-raiser on Thursday, March 26.
“There’s a lot to be said about being on a team and developing as a team,” he said. “I think you grow as a person with the team and mature through learning every day how to be better at something. …
“You’re going to have your ups and you’re going to have your downs, and you’ve got to learn to take it — it’s just like life, every day is not sunshine.”
Mr. Pambianchi, who owns Pamby Motors on Route 7 and has served as the football booster club’s treasurer since 2001, started coaching the sport at the Pop Warner level in 1993 with his son Matt.
When the high school selected Kevin Callahan to be its new varsity football coach in 1999, there was a meeting between the junior level and senior level football coaches in town.
“We were introduced to him and continued to meet with him to discuss how we could make things better here,” Mr. Pambianchi recalled.
“He asked if we could help fund-raise for weight equipment because the high school had very little of it at the time, and so I rounded up six guys who put up 500 bucks apiece and that really put the program on the right track.”
In 2001, funding for the program’s new football stadium — Tiger Hollow — started, and that’s when, Mr. Pambianchi said, “everything seemed to come together for the program.”
A year later, the Tigers were Class L state champions — one of the many highlights Mr. Pambianchi has from being a part of the program.
“Matt was on that state title team, and it was just a very special moment for everybody and for the town,” he said.
“My younger son, Nick, was on a 9-1 team that didn’t make the playoffs because of the point system, but there are plenty of memories from watching them play and growing up,” he said. “That’s why I’ve always said the high school is probably the best four years of your life as an athlete, because not a lot of guys get the opportunity to go to that next level, and these are the memories that will last forever.”
Beyond the field
While football has always been at the center of his attention, Mr. Pambianchi said he’s learned just as much watching coaches of other sports teams at the high school.
He praised Athletic Director Carl Charles, who came to Ridgefield in 2005, for making a big commitment to finding “the absolute best coach out there for every program at the high school.”
“Football practices the same time as field hockey, so when I’m down there in the fall I’m always watching their coaches,” he said. “They really have in mind what’s best for the kids.
“Everybody wants to win, but there’s more that a coach can instill in a kid than ‘it’s all about winning.’ It’s just as much about growing as a person, and I see that message being passed along at all levels in every sport up there.”
Mr. Pambianchi says he’s most involved with the athletics program in the fall, during the football season, but he tries to make it to every home basketball game in the winter and likes attending baseball games in the spring.
“When I was growing up, it was baseball, basketball and football,” he said. “But it’s great to see all the programs we have and all the success they’ve had over the years.”
Some examples of annual success that he rattles off are the boys and girl’s track and lacrosse teams, as well as basketball.
“They’ve really been phenomenal over the last couple of years, which has made it a lot of fun to watch,” he said.
Beyond the high school level, Mr. Pambianchi said, he really just enjoys watching a wide range of sports, from NASCAR races to college basketball.
“I’ve always loved sports,” he said. “And growing up here I was always involved, from grade school level up through the high school.”
Equipment and safety
In addition to raising funds for the football booster club, Mr. Pambianchi serves as its equipment manager — a position he took on with coach Charles’s arrival in 2005.
Of course, any conversation today that revolves around football and equipment has to include concussions.
“Everything you hear about is concussions, and it’s not just football — it’s happening in soccer and lacrosse, too,” Mr. Pambianchi said.
He explained that coach Charles meets with the respective booster clubs of each sports team at the beginning of every year and gives them a breakdown of what he can spend on a specific program and what will need to be fund-raised out.
“Coach Callahan, coach Charles and I meet to go over the football budgets, and it’s been a good partnership,” he said. “We try to prioritize every year, and he says, I’ve got X amount of dollars and here’s what you’re going to have to raise.’”
The football program, through the help of donations, first invested in Riddell Revolution helmets in 2008, and then again in 2012.
The equipment has a five-year life span, according to Mr. Pambianchi, and is designed to reduce the risk of sustaining head injuries during football games.
Used by 83% of the players in the National Football League, the Revolution model is “the best of what’s out there.”
“Nobody really knew anything about it when we started the process,” Mr. Pambianchi said. “We met with several bidders back then, and Riddell ended up with the winning bid.
“We’re on second time around with them, and we’re going to need to get some new ones again soon,” he said.
Technology
While safety is always the No. 1 concern as the team’s equipment manager, there are other challenges he faces serving in the dual role as booster and coach.
“The main challenge is that everything keeps changing and it’s hard to keep up with everything,” he said, pointing to the technological advances in the coaching field and the software that’s needed to be purchased to help prepare the RHS staff.
“Coaches have to put in so much time to prepare and the kids are stronger and faster than they’ve ever been,” he said.
Fund raising for technology-related stuff, like the program’s Hudl video software, falls directly on the shoulders of the booster club and donors.
Also being added to the mix is the time it takes to train and fully prepare for the season.
“The football season really starts on Jan. 1,” Mr. Pambianchi said of a calendar that includes clinics and camps for the coaches and early morning running for the players.
“If we get to states, we’re going into December on our schedule,” he added. “It’s almost a whole year now — it didn’t use to be like that.”
Boys to men
Despite the many different challenges, like bouncing back from the program’s 2-9 performance last season, Mr. Pambianchi has as much passion for the athletics program as when he first got involved around 15 years ago.
He estimates that he’s helped coach anywhere from 400 to 500 kids in football alone, dating back to his early days in the 1990s.
“It’s nice because some of the kids are back in town and are now married or starting their careers,” he said. “They’re adults now, but when they’re just kids who are 9 and 10 years old, you don’t know what they’re going to be, and then they come back as doctors, lawyers, accountants, writers — it’s incredible to watch and be part of it. …
“Seeing them as 28- and 29-year-olds who are now grown men — some of them even as husbands and fathers, it’s nice to see that and have it come full circle.”
He said that from time to time he runs into former players who recall lessons they learned on the field, being part of the team.
“Guys come up to me and say, ‘Remember when you said that to me?’” Mr. Pambianchi said. “You never know what you say to a kid that inspires a kid, but it’s always great to hear that kind of stuff. …
“That’s why I always tell them, it’s the best four years of your life and to enjoy going out there every single day.”
Spring Thaw
The Spring Thaw will take place at the Lounsbury House from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26. Those who would like to attend the fund-raising event may send checks made out to RHS AAC (Ridgefield Advisory Council) to 280 Great Hill Road, Ridgefield CT 06877. Tickets are $35.