Pistorio brings prolific passing background to South Elgin
Pat Pistorio has been named football head coach at South Elgin, where he replaces veteran coach Dale Schabert.
A native of Elgin, Pistorio been with the Chicago Slaughter indoor football franchise since it started in 2007.
During the 2007 season, Pistorio was promoted to offensive coordinator midway through the season. He went on to lead an offense that ranked in the top three in scoring during the 2007-2009 seasons.
In 2013, Pisotrio helped quarterback Cody Kirby earn IFL Rookie of the Year honors.
During the 2010 season, receiver Reggie Gray was the IFL’s all-purpose yardage leader in only nine games played, and offensive lineman Rasche Hill was named second team All-IFL.
The 2010 Slaughter squad also recorded the highest scoring output in the league by defeating West Michigan by 83-49.
During the team’s undefeated championship season in 2009, Pistorio’s offense averaged a league-leading 65 points and outscored its opponents by an average of nearly 30 points. The 2009 Slaughter offense was the most prolific in indoor football that season and broke numerous league records for both team and individual play.
Records that were broken in 2009 include passing yards, total offensive yards, passing touchdowns and completions. The 2009 squad recorded the highest scoring output in the league in an 84-24 victory over the Milwaukee Bonecrushers.
Quarterback Russ Michna (Conant) earned the CIFL offensive player of the year and MVP awards that season. He later signed with the Las Vegas Locomotives of the UFL. Receiver Donovan Morgan was nominated the most valuable player in the championship game and later signed with the Tulsa Talons of the AFL.
In addition to his coaching duties with the Slaughter, Pistorio took offensive coordinator duties at Harper College in Palatine in 2010.
Prior to his experience at Harper, Pistorio spent three seasons at Lake Forest College. During his tenure, Lake Forest wide receivers earned five All-Midwest Conference selections, including a pair of first-team distinctions, in Pistorio’s first two seasons. Three Forester wideouts caught at least 42 passes in 2007, and Dan Carter became the program’s all-time leader in receiving yards and touchdowns during Pistorio’s time on staff.
Pistorio also coached at South Elgin and Larkin, where he directed the wide receivers. At Larkin, he coached all-state receiver Eyad Salem, who earned a scholarship to Illinois State and later was given a tryout with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Pistorio is a 2002 graduate of Southern Illinois, where he had the opportunity to work with the Saluki football program as a student assistant. During that time he was able to work with coach Jerry Kill. Pistorio earned a degree in History Secondary Education and a Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction.
He is currently a social studies teacher at South Elgin High School, where he also coaches wrestling.
During the offseason he is a director of the Chicago Bears Youth Football Camps.
“We are thrilled to have Pat at the helm of our football program,” said South Elgin principal Jim Edwards. “Pat’s tireless work ethic, leadership skills and commitment to program-building will serve our student-athletes and community well.”