Holy Cross Football Coach
Flushing
Job: Pugh has been the football coach at Holy Cross for 34 years. At the Flushing school, he’s won nine championships and compiled a record of 171-155-8. He also teaches a psychology class every semester and is a guidance counselor.
“It’s something new every day,” he said. “It’s important to get kids to feel positive about themselves. I try to help my students out the best I can, give them whatever they need.”
Family Facts: Pugh has been married to Doreen for 20 years. He has four children: Jennifer, 34; Tom, 29; Dan, 27; and Brian, 15, a sophomore at Holy Cross.
Fondest Memory: “I have a lot of them,” he said. “There have been so many great moments in coaching. But I’ll tell you what, the 1978 team, that defense was incredible. They were really good. They gave up three touchdowns all year.”
Biggest Gripe: “None. I don’t have any. I love this job.”
Proudest Moment: “When I look back and see guys come back with their kids and their families. Most important to me [other than winning] is the kind of values we give our kids here. I’m pretty proud of what we’ve done.
Future Plans: Pugh, 59, plans on remaining at Holy Cross for the foreseeable future. “I still got the juice; I still get excited on Sundays. As long as I can say that, I’m happy. I still get excited every fall and on especially game day. So why mess it up?”
Inspiration: Pugh says his biggest inspiration is his longtime assistant coach Stanley Aufiere, also the head of the physical education program at Holy Cross. “He’s been my assistant for 32 years. We’re a team, we do everything together. … I make all my decisions with him.”
