Sometimes adversity isn’t the failures we face, but the mountains themselves that we climb on the rise to the top. This week, University of Pittsburgh’s Coach DeCapito, shares how young athletes and budding coaches can use the determination and GRIT developed on the field in order to take their careers to the next level.
Phil DeCapito enters his third season as Pitt’s defensive quality control assistant and his sixth overall with the Panthers. He has been an invaluable contributor to a defensive unit that has ranked among the nation’s very best over the past two seasons.DeCapito initially served on Pat Narduzzi’s staff from 2015-17 as a defensive graduate assistant. He served in that same capacity during the 2018 season at Memphis, which finished as the American Athletic Conference (AAC) runner-up and earned a Birmingham Bowl berth.
Following the 2018 season, he was named the defensive coordinator at Lake Erie College, an NCAA Division II program in Ohio, before ultimately reuniting with Narduzzi at Pitt.
A native of Warren, Ohio, Phil was a standout football player and wrestler at Warren John F. Kennedy Catholic School, earning first-team All-Trumbull County honors as a senior lineman. He went on to play four seasons at Emory & Henry College, earning his bachelor’s degree in education and physical education.
– Phil talks about how he got into coaching – 2:03
– Phil discusses recruiting and the qualities he’s looking for in players – 4:26
– Phil talks about the importance of mentorship and teamwork and how it impacts the season – 23:15
– Phil explains the mentorship he had during his journey to coaching D1 and the experience he built up along the way 26:21
– Phil talks about his bond with Las Vegas Raider Jimmy Morrissey – 33:07
– Phil discusses Division 3 athletes and the love of the game that separates them from other athletes – 37:53
– Phil talks about some of the adversity he sees as a coach and the anchors he holds onto to overcome them – 48:12
– Phil shares his definition of mental fitness – 58:28
