Former Central Bucks Coach, Quarterback Is Vikings' New Assistant Head Coach

DOYLESTOWN, PA — Mike Pettine, a Central Bucks High School West graduate, has joined the Minnesota Vikings as an assistant head coach.

Pettine has 18 years of football coaching experience in the NFL, but got his start in football right here at home.

His father, Mike Pettine Sr., won four state championships in 33 seasons as head coach for Central Bucks West. The junior Pettine played quarterback and defensive back at the local high school, before taking on the free safety position at the University of Virginia, according to a story from Lindsey Young.

Sports Illustrated called Pettine the more notable name of the new coaches joining the Vikings staff.

Pettine coached high school football from 1998-92 as an assistant at Central Bucks West, 1995-96 at William Tennent, and 1997-2001 at North Penn, Young wrote. He was a graduate assistant at Pittsburgh from 1993-94.

He then worked as defensive assistant with the Baltimore Ravens, then was the defensive coordinator for the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills before two seasons in the top job with the Cleveland Browns, Sports Illustrated detailed.

After being fired from the Browns in 2016, Pettine took a two-year sabbatical, built a home from scratch, and reevaluated his career, according to PackersNews.com. Pettine was then hired as the Green Bay Packers' defensive coordinator from 2018 to 2020.

He spent last season as a senior defensive assistant with the Chicago Bears, and will now work under Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell in Minnesota.

According to the Vikings' news release, Pettine and his wife have six children together in their blended family.

He said his father, who died in 2017, advised him, "Let's not call good great. Let's not accept mediocrity."

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