Earlier this month Shawn McCullough was named the boys basketball coach at Thurgood. Also previously the Stivers boys head coach, McCullough at one time was an assistant with Pittman for Hoskins at Thurgood.
Announcing the hire was new Dayton Public Schools athletic director Mark Baker, who left the head boys basketball job at Middletown to succeed Jonas Smith in that role last month. Succeeding Baker at Middletown is Hoskins.
Pittman had already been approved as a Middletown assistant when he decided to pursue the Ponitz position.
“It was a very tough call to make to tell (Hoskins) I was going to resign. … He thought something personal had happened. After I told him, he paused, then said, ‘Yes; finally.’ ”
“Pit” was a towering sideline figure during Hoskins’ celebrated run at Thurgood, which included a pair of state final four Division II teams. Pittman will be inducted into Beavercreek’s athletic hall of fame during halftime of a Week 2 football game against visiting Carroll. He also was the last senior to play basketball for former Flyers head coach Don Donoher.
“It’s been a heck of a summer,” said Pittman.
Ponitz has been through a whirlwind of head coaches in all the major sports since making its City League debut in 2009. Jim Place is in his second year as the Golden Panthers head football coach. Ponitz basketball has had the most success, earning a share of the City League boys title in 2014-15 under then head coach Shaun O’Connell.
Baker cited Pittman’s ability to connect with inner-city students as even more impressive than his basketball resume. He said Pittman has mentored 24 students who have been granted Ohio High School Athletic Association scholar-athlete awards.
“He’s done some great thing in the district and he comes with a good basketball experience over the years,” Baker said. “Steve is certainly the quality-type coach we want to make sure that is in our district. He knows his craft. He’s going to be great for our kids.”
Pittman has worked for the Kantor brothers and Victory Wholesale Grocers since graduating from UD. His son, Wayne grad Malcolm Pittman, is a senior who plays basketball at Wilmington College.
“I try to treat the kids like they’re my own,” Pittman said. “I’m firm but fair. If you do it that way and you’re honest with the parents you’ll be successful.”
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