Time Running Out On Scoreboard Fundraiser To Honor Former Wolfpack Coach

LONG VALLEY, N.J. – With less than three weeks to go, a fundraiser to honor one of West Morris Central’s most notable coaches is more than halfway to its goal but still needs to make a push.

Alumni and former West Morris Central Wolfpack football players have banded together to honor Pete Piccirillo, who spent more than three decades on the football sidelines. The group is trying to raise $15,300 to create and install a new billboard with Piccirillo’s name.

As of Tuesday morning, the fundraiser had totaled $10,612 from nearly 70 donors. The fundraiser ends July 4. See how to donate by clicking here.

To all who knew him and played for him, Piccirillo was a mentor and role model. The three-year letter winner at Indiana University was drafted by the New England Patriots, but took his love for football to the sidelines instead. He started as Central’s assistant coach in 1961 and two years later took over the lead role.

During his 34-year career, Piccirillo tallied 220 wins, 98 losses, and six ties. The Wolfpack won eight conference championships, named number one in the county six times, reached the playoffs 11 times, made the state finals game seven times, won three titles, and recorded 23 consecutive winning seasons.

It was under Piccirillo that the team’s name changed from Highlanders to Wolfpack to represent “the strength of the wolf is in the pack and the strength of the pack is in the wolf.”

Piccirillo was named New Jersey Coach of the Year, North Jersey Coach of the Year, and Morris County Coach of the Year six times.