BY WENDI REARDON PRICE
Clarkston News Sports Writer

Justin Pintar has always had a passion for coaching since he was a child.
It carried on in high school when he would sit in his classes and draw out plays.
“For some reason, it’s been something I have always wanted to do,” Pintar said. “My brother is a varsity basketball coach in Alpena and sports is just something that has always been a huge part of my life and the coaching part has always been something I had a passion for. It’s always been there.”
The passion will help in his new role as head coach for Clarkston Varsity Football, which was announced by Clarkston Athletics Director Jeff Kosin, March 22.
Pintar is not a stranger to the Wolves’ football program, coaching for 14 years and with the varsity team since 2015.
“Obviously there are big shoes to fill,” Pintar said. “It’s one of the first things you think about is the success Kurt Richardson has had over the last 35-plus years as coach. Big shoes to fill but at the same time he has built a foundation already in place. There’s not a lot that needs to be done to continue the success.”
Richardson announced in February he was retiring from being at the helm.
Pintar added Richardson has been extremely helpful during the transition and the experience coaching alongside Richardson will help.
“I have had a chance to watch first hand the things he does on a day to day basis,” Pintar said. “You just learn a ton being around a coach like that. Being in the program, I know the things we have done that has led to success. I am looking to continue to do the things he put in place. Maybe make a few tweaks here and there, but he has already laid a foundation. Being able to work directly underneath him for the last seven years or so has made, what I think, the transition easier if I was going somewhere and had to start from scratch.”
The transition will also be easier for the players.
“The players we have already and I have had some conversations,” Pintar said. “I know the guys coming back. Terminology will stay the same. They don’t have to learn a new offense system. They don’t need to learn a new defense system. We can just take what we do and keep rolling. For the kids, I think the transition should be pretty seamless as well.”
Pintar enjoys a lot about coaching including the competition aspect, but what he enjoys the most is watching progress of the players.

“When you have a kid that you can see their development and their growth,” he said. “You see their improvement. Especially varsity. You get to see kids for a couple years, even longer. To be able to watch their growth and their improvement from year to year there comes a satisfaction watching kids develop and improve. We are fortunate we have had a lot of success. Then, you get to see the joy they get from the success. There’s nothing else like it.”
Pintar added the Clarkston community has played a big role in the success of the program.
“We have parents who put in tons of time to help make the program successful,” Pintar said. “We have tons of community members who volunteer their time to help the program be successful. The community itself has done so much. They have so much pride in the athletic programs. What the community does in terms of providing help and assistance and support for the athletic programs is a big reason why Clarkston has the success it does with their athletic programs. There is a lot of pride there. There is a huge expectation from the community but I also know the community is one of the reasons we have the success that we do at Clarkston.”
Pintar shared he wants the community to know he is very passionate.
“I know the community loves their athletics,” he said. “I also know the community and their support is part of the success for the program. The continued support from the community will be a big piece of our success. I am looking forward to filling those big shoes KR left and continue on that success of the program.”
Pintar teaches social studies in Clarkston Community Schools and it was the position which brought him to the area in 2007.
“Really, I was lucky. At that time there was hardly any teaching jobs,” he said. “The market for teaching was not very good. There was an open teaching position. If you gave me a choice I would have picked Clarkston. It was just a matter of luck ending up here. Once I got here I have stayed here. There has never been a thought of leaving Clarkston once I was in.”
When he got to Clarkston he began coaching with seventh grade basketball. The next year he coached seventh grade football.
“I just worked my way up in basketball coached freshman and JV,” Pintar said, adding with Clarkston Basketball he learned a lot about coaching and running a successful program from Dan Fife, former head coach for Clarkston Boys Varsity Basketball . “Then, coached varsity football. I always knew I wanted to get into a coaching. There wasn’t a moment. I knew I would get into it.”
Pintar lives with his family, his wife, Lindsey, and their two children, Max and Emerson.
“Thank you to my wife for her support in taking the position because I wouldn’t be able to do this without her support.”

  Clarkston Football, Justin Pintar