Young coaches get their football fix on Norwin staff

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Sunday, November 5, 2023 | 11:01 AM

Anthony Giansante and Jackson Pruitt were supposed to be playing college football this fall.

Giansante should be a redshirt sophomore and Western Carolina, Pruitt a redshirt junior at Youngstown State.

But instead, the former high school standouts found football fulfillment on the coaching staff at Norwin.

“You don’t get the same adrenaline rush coaching as you do playing,” said Giansante, a Norwin graduate and former Knights lineman. “But I love working with offensive linemen and enjoy seeing kids improve.”

Giansante and Pruitt came on board when Mike Brown left Hempfield to become the head coach of the Knights.

“Mike reached out to me,” said Pruitt, who played at Jeannette. “I knew I wanted to get into coaching, so I figured I’d check it out.”

Giansante, unrecognizable from his playing days because he lost 100 pounds, works with varsity and junior varsity linemen.

An injury forced him to turn the page on his career and give back to his alma mater.

“I was advised by medical professionals that I should give up playing,” he said. “My goal had always been to be a teacher and a high school football coach. So, although it was really disappointing to have my football career cut short, coaching allows me to still be around the game I love.”

Pruitt was a wide receiver and defensive back for the Jayhawks. He is on a staff that also includes former Jeannette head coach Ray Reitz.

“I have some next-level success that I can bring to the table,” Pruitt said. “I enjoy working with the kids every week.”

Pruitt works with defensive backs on the varsity and junior varsity. His decision to leave college stemmed from him starting a family.

“We had twin baby girls in June, so I had to come home for them,” Pruitt said.

Pruitt and his girlfriend, Isabella Matijevic, the cousin of former Norwin baseball star JJ Matijevic, welcomed Paisley and Tatum into the world.

“This allows me to stay around the game,” he said. “I am young as heck and still had a lot to give the game, but I had to do what was right.”

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Norwin