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| Westfield State elevated its coaching
position to full-time for the first time in the program's
history. Westfield State athletics photo |
Pete Kowalski has been officially named the head football coach
at Westfield State.
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 athletics director Richard Lenfest stated
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.
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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.