Brandon Twp.-When the Brandon Blackhawks Varsity football team take the field this fall it be under new leadership.
Head Coach Tim Pizzala announced that he has stepped down after nine seasons at the helm of the Blackhawks.
‘It’s been a great run at Brandon, but it’s now time for me to spend more time with my family,? said Pizzala. ‘There have been and are some outstanding student-athletes at Brandon, a lot of great kids and parents. It’s time for someone else to take the program in another direction.?
Pizzala, who has taught at Brandon High School since 1999, will continue teaching social studies.
‘My son Payton is 13-years-old and plays for the Davison Middle School team? I will now be able to see him play this fall,? he added.
Pizzala’s record at Brandon was 36-47 in nine seasons, with a winning percentage of .430’making the playoffs twice. In 2015 the Blackhawks lost in the first round to Linden High School, 20-3, after finishing the season 6-4, which included a late field goal sparking a win over rival Goodrich, 11-10. The Blackhawks also made the playoffs in 2011 with a record of 5-5, but lost to Port Huron 32-14 in the first game.
Pizzala took over for Coach Ron Gill as the Brandon football coach at the end of the 2006 football season. He had been the assistant varsity coach for four years. Prior to that, Pizzala was the freshman football coach at Brandon for four years, and served one year as a varsity assistant football coach at Saranac, located outside of Grand Rapids.
‘Tim made the decision to resign just after Thanksgiving,? said Don Watchowski, Brandon athletic director. ‘Currently we are in the process of finding the best football coach for Brandon High School. There’s a lot of people out there that have shown interest in the job and we hope to have someone in place by the end of January.?
Watchowski said he will look within the district for a new coach in addition to outside the area. Currently the coaching position is on the Oakland County Human Resource Consortium and the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association websites.
‘The community is very supportive of the team and the school,? he added. ‘If the new coach is a teacher within the district, all the better since they know the students and the program. However, we’ll continue to search until we have the right person for our program.?