04/19/2007

Passinault filling out his staff

BY JAMES COOK

jcook@record-eagle.com

Passinault

TRAVERSE CITY — Much of Traverse City Central's coaching staff is in place, but most of the specific spots have yet to be determined.

New head coach Tom Passinault has hired two former Grand Rapids-area coaches as assistants at TC Central.

Grand Rapids Catholic Central defensive coordinator Jim Galvin will perform the same job for the Trojans, and Grand Rapids West Catholic interim head coach Bruce Ford will also be an assistant.

Galvin was the GRCC's defensive coordinator for the last six years, and has been a head coach at Hudsonville, Sparta and GRCC. Galvin hired Passinault as Catholic Central's junior varsity coach.

Galvin won a Class B state championship in 1987 as Catholic Central's head coach.

Ford guided West Catholic to an 8-3 record last season and a playoff win.

Passinault also said he is retaining five assistants from last year's team — Aaron Biggar, Paul Bonaccini, Doug Gle, Mike Gle and Eric Schugars. He did not specify what positions they'll coach. Passinault said he would likely hire one more coach.

Passinault has been to TC seven times since being hired on Feb. 2.

"It's been a challenge,” Passinault said while in Traverse City to speak at a fund-raiser. "Being two hours away has been difficult, but I've gotten good help from the coaches here.

"(The players) need to realize that to be a good football team you can't expect to just show up in August.”