Pioneer High School hires Paul Test as head football coach
Pioneer High School will introduce Paul Test as its new varsity football coach to boosters and alumni on Friday. For those who follow the program, Test will need no introduction.
Test was head coach at Pioneer from 1991-94 and has spent 20 of his 31 years as a coach at Pioneer and with other area programs. He spent last year as the defensive coordinator at Skyline High School and coached in the Huron High School program for eight years.
Test, 56, has been an educator in Ann Arbor for as long as he has been a coach and for the past 10 years has been the physical education teacher at Thurston Elementary School.
Paul Test, shown in 2009, is the new football coach at Pioneer High School.
File photo
“Paul, I think, is a great hire from the perspective that he is an educator, knows the progressions of teaching and knows how to build relationships,” said Pioneer athletic director Lorin Cartwright. “He’s a very impressive man from the perspective that he doesn’t put kids down, he builds them up, and through his career has a long track record of developing high character individuals both on and off the field.”
Test replaces Jeremy Gold, who recently accepted the head coach position at Morgan Park High School in Chicago. Gold was 23-17 in four seasons at Pioneer and made three consecutive Division 1 state playoff appearances from 2008-10. Test was the freshman coach under Gold from 2007-09, compiling a 27-0 record.
“I’ve been a Pioneer guy for a long time,” Test said. “The most exciting thing to me is the relationships I established in ninth grade that I’ll be able to move forward with. Reinforce the importance of academics, try and teach them about life and help prepare them for life on and off the football field.”
Test’s resume includes Class A state championships in 1984 and 1987 as the defensive coordinator under Chuck Lori at Pioneer. Test takes particular pride in the second title because his defense shut out Detroit Catholic Central in the championship game. Pioneer won 3-0 with, in Test's words, “a home run in the bottom of the ninth.” Pioneer allowed 7.9 points per game that season with four shutouts.
As a player, Test was a member of Dearborn Divine Child’s 1973 Class B state championship team and the University of Pittsburgh’s 1976 national championship squad.
In his first stint as Pioneer head coach, Test’s teams were 22-16. He stepped down as head following the 1994 season in order to show his wife, Pam, that he loved her more than the game of football.
“After 15 years, I was a little worn and my wife one day said, ‘You love football more than me,’ so I spent the next two years letting her know she came first,” Test said.
He laughingly recalls an incident that was no laughing matter at the time. One day Pam was talking to him about a major surgery her mother was due to undergo and he responded with, ‘You know what? I think we can beat Ypsi this week.’
That didn’t go over so hot.
After two years of “re-courting” his wife and dedicating more of his time to his two teenage daughters, Test said he emerged as a better husband and father. But after two years away from football, Pam recognized that not only was she Paul’s first love, but that he needed his second love. Test returned to coaching at Huron in 1997.
In his first game in his second stint as head coach of the Pioneers, Test will stand on the sideline opposite an old friend, Paul Verska. The former Huron coach now coaches Warren De La Salle.
“That’ll be fun,” Test said. “There’s a lot of healthy respect on both sides.”
Pete Cunningham cover sports for annarbor.com. He can be reached at petercunningham@annarbor.com or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.
Comments
Pioneer33
Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 3:03 a.m.
As a Senior playing this year, i can say to those who think because Test is back that the program is going to be turned around and now lots of players should be joining back. Well the thing you have to realize is that everyone that plays football aren't really football players and i can tell you the real reason why lots of players didnt want to play for coach gold is because gold doesn't they want to do their own thing and think they should just get a spot without earning it. Yea i can tell you gold gets out of hand sometimes but i can also tell you babying your players isn't going to help as well. Some players dont all have toughness, and in practice i seen gold build toughness in the junior class this year. but to compare golds varisty record towards a freshman coach record isnt the same because freshman football is nowhere near close to the atmosphere of varsity games and our juniors found that out this year. Because they now know they can be beat. Its not easy, & if you want to win your going to have to work hard and give your all. its not going to be given just because a coach is hired that everyone likes. i wish them the best of luck and see how this season goes
Dayne White Bull The Terrible.
Thu, Mar 31, 2011 : midnight
People shouldn't talk down coach. He was actually my freshman football coach back in 2007 where he help unite us as a team (which by the way was a 9-0 team). Trust me, this man still has it. He's got class to bring to the table, he has sportsmanship, he cares about the team and through all that, he'll win games. I now have a reason to watch Pioneer football after I graduate this year.
AnnArborTiger
Wed, Mar 30, 2011 : 9:39 p.m.
I am a current Pi Hi parent who's son has been coached by both Mr. Test and Mr. Gold and I can tell you that Mr. Test is a fine man who has the best interest of all of his players at heart. I can also tell you Mr. Gold was not. Mr. Gold's performance as Head Football Coach was strangling the program as fewer and fewer students were choosing to play for him. In this year's senior class (2011 - probably in excess of 600 students), I heard only about 11 seniors reported to play in August. I applaud the choice of Mr. Test as the new Head Football Coach and know the staff will resume following the Pioneer Athletics Core Values (from <a href="http://www.a2pioneer.org/pioneer.athletics/home)" rel='nofollow'>http://www.a2pioneer.org/pioneer.athletics/home)</a> INTEGRITY - We do what is ethical under all circumstances. EXCELLENCE - We strive to be our best on and off the field. RESPECT - We honor and value ourselves and others. TEAM - Together as one we pursue common goals. COMMITMENT - We give total effort and sacrifice to achieve our purpose.
d_a2
Wed, Mar 30, 2011 : 8:01 p.m.
Does anybody know how much high school coaches make?
dk
Tue, Mar 29, 2011 : 10:38 p.m.
"PIHI will always be mediocre in football because of this wussified thinking you see in comments by dk and the rest of the Lorin Cartwright cronies. WHAT A JOKE!!! What is coach Anes going to be the offensive cord? Just because you coach high school football for a long time doesn't mean you know how to coach football." Looks like FB32 is still bitter about riding the pine.
Twan
Tue, Mar 29, 2011 : 12:07 a.m.
The players on the team couldn't be more happy with this decision. He has coached the juniors and seniors as the Freshmen head coach and had an undefeated record with both those teams. Next years Pioneer Football team was going to have roughly 30 kids on the Varsity team. I will be surprised if this number isn't at least 70 now that Paul Test has been hired. Everyone close to the program knows how awful Gold was at bringing kids out to play, as well as the wealth of talent that has gone threw Pioneer in the past few years. Test knows these kids already, and despite what some may say he KNOWS how to win. The players believe this, why not the community?
Chim Richalds
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 2:46 p.m.
Having coached previously with Coach Test, I can tell you that he is an outstanding coach. He is very knowledgeable of the game and is a great motivator to the players. This is a good hire for Pioneer. However, I think that they should have made Westfall the coach when they hired Gold instead and they should have hired him now if he had applied. In my opinion, Lorin has something against him and his family. It is a shame that these types of things get in the way of having a successful program, especially for the sake of the kids.
Amy Towler
Fri, Mar 25, 2011 : 3:42 p.m.
I have had the honor of knowing Paul Test since he was my jr. high school gym teacher at St. Francis -- where I might add he had to work closely with someone (another teacher, you know who you are) who absolutely was a bully to me and others and who I have considered confronting now that I'm an adult (and I still might). He has always been an absolutely top notch person who gives his all to his students and most importantly, does all he can to make them feel special, worthy, and ABLE. I graduated from Pioneer in 1987 so yes, I know all about how important sports success is in this town, but shame on all of you who think winning is the end all be all to human existence. Most kids will NOT find professional success in sports it is their education that will sustain them! Way to go Coach Test I am so happy for you and wish you nothing but the best!
Tony Livingston
Fri, Mar 25, 2011 : 7:46 p.m.
Finally someone with some common sense speaks up. Pioneer is way too focused on winning at any cost.
AASpartan
Fri, Mar 25, 2011 : 2:45 p.m.
This is very disappointing. Coach Test had his chance once, and let down a bunch of kids because of personal issues. He will have a chance year after year to coach. Most of these kids will have one chance to make a lasting memory. Pioneer has a history of competing state-wide. Coach Gold was renewing that tradition before he left. I have to agree that this hire has little to do with building on what Coach Gold revived, and everything to do with an old relationship between an AD and an unsuccessful coach. Sadly it is the kids that will be negatively impacted. The team will continue to suffer until the school has an AD in place that values importance of a football program. As a PiHi alumnus it is sad to see that football is no longer a proud tradition.
FB32
Fri, Mar 25, 2011 : 3 p.m.
here, here.... finally some comments from poeple who played under Test and know what is going on in our athletic dept. Why dont you ask Lorin what happen to Tony Annesse? THis guy won state titles in Muskegon after walking away from PIHI because Lorin didnt give him the PE job he was promised when he stared, he ended up at a middle school where he couldnt be aournd his players. Its clear Lorin's super liberal outlook is hurting a once football power house. This lady thinks she knows everything and nobody with any clout with step up to call her out. WUSSIFEID
FB32
Fri, Mar 25, 2011 : 2:08 p.m.
PIHI will always be mediocre in football because of this wussified thinking you see in comments by dk and the rest of the Lorin Cartwright cronies. WHAT A JOKE!!! What is coach Anes going to be the offensive cord? Just because you coach high school football for a long time doesn't mean you know how to coach football.
FB32
Fri, Mar 25, 2011 : 2:04 p.m.
YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME? PAUL TEST? This guy had two winning seasons at PIHI when he was the coach. He is a good guy, but lets cut the crap, good guy doesn't bring winning to a once storied program. Lorin Cartwright knows very little about building a solid high school football program. Paul Test is not a head coach, he might know how to coach Defensive backs, but that's it. Have fun being Mediocre, but you're right he is a good guy, so I guess that means he is a good coach. I feel sorry for the kids with talent who wont have a shot in hell to play Div 1 now that they have a coach that has a track record of being lazy with college coaches. Lorin Cartwright needs to retire.....
A2Westsider
Fri, Mar 25, 2011 : 12:56 p.m.
Purple white fight fight - GO PIONEER!!
Cossur
Fri, Mar 25, 2011 : 12:40 p.m.
"Hiring a football coach?" Mr Test is REPLACING a departing coach. As many others have said Paul is a class act and Pioneer students will be enriched once again by his presence. I was around when Paul & Pam first got together-- they are BOTH lucky to have each other!
EightySeven
Fri, Mar 25, 2011 : 1:16 a.m.
Donbee How much money do you think Coach Test will be paid??? Trust me me High School coaches don't coach for the money most do it for the passion of coaching. With you logic do they not hire anyone? Somebody please help what does a head coach make maybe $5K or less.
DonBee
Fri, Mar 25, 2011 : 1:05 a.m.
The school is pleading broke and they hire a football coach?
FB32
Fri, Mar 25, 2011 : 2:09 p.m.
go pedal your tea party politics somewhere else
David Briegel
Fri, Mar 25, 2011 : 1:39 p.m.
Don, that is, for you, a vey silly comment. You are better than that!
MyOpinion
Fri, Mar 25, 2011 : 1:47 a.m.
By your logic, some schools would have coaches and others would be player-led or led by volunteers because the coach retired or moved elsewhere. Coaches are not well-paid. The abuse with coaches is hiring them as a teacher in the district. Test already has a position and could probably transfer his gym teacher skills at Thurston to Pioneer.
longtime AA
Fri, Mar 25, 2011 : 12:15 a.m.
One of the positives of having Paul Test as coach is having a teacher/educator as a Head Coach. This needs to be done more often, but is difficult in a school district that is not hiring, and which does not put a premium in giving a coach a job in thre district. Now, the next step is to get Paul a positioin at Pioneer so he can be in contact with the players on a daily basis. If we keep saying that athletics builds character, etc., and the coach is the one who instills these positive characteristics, then it just makes sense to have that person in a position to do that beyond practices and the season.
Brian
Fri, Mar 25, 2011 : 12:06 a.m.
I had the privilege of playing for coach Test and can honestly say that he has been one of the most influential people in my life. Coach cared more about me and my development as a man more than my performance on the field. He definitely leads by example. GOOD HIRE PIONEER.
Susan Montgomery
Thu, Mar 24, 2011 : 11:07 p.m.
This is wonderful news! My sons both had Mr. Test as gym teacher at Thurston school and they learned about so much more than athletics from him, the most important lessons being how to treat others with respect and how to appreciate differences. Pioneer is lucky to have him back, and as a Pioneer alumna I couldn't be happier...
FB32
Fri, Mar 25, 2011 : 3:06 p.m.
what are the kids playing duck duck goose? Football is a man's game and is a tough game, there is no crying in football. "excusses me sir, you hit me hard on that last play, let sit down after practice and talk about it to make it right so I dont hurt your feelings agian"....WTh LOL another Lorin Cronie, next thing you know is there going to ban football because its too tough
EightySeven
Thu, Mar 24, 2011 : 9:32 p.m.
A true class act! The players deserve to have a mature adult mentor/ and coach them. The program will only be better because of this hire. Congrats Coach Test.
dk
Thu, Mar 24, 2011 : 8:26 p.m.
Paul Test is one of the finest gentlemen you'll ever meet. He is taking this position to help the kids, not on the football field, but in life. These kids are tremendously lucky to play for Coach Test. Good luck coach.
treetowncartel
Thu, Mar 24, 2011 : 8:18 p.m.
Congratulations Coach. Are the assistants that all suddenly resigned before the playoffs last year going to be re-hired.?