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'It was a blessing being here': Mike Picetti resigns as Thomas Worthington football coach
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- 'It was a blessing being here': Mike Picetti resigns as Thomas Worthington football coach
Citing health reasons, Mike Picetti has stepped down as Thomas Worthington football coach after five seasons.
Picetti, 46, coached the first five games this season before health problems forced him to miss the final five. During that time, he advised coaches and players and worked on scouting reports.
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"It wasn't an easy (decision) at all," Picetti said. "... It was one of those decisions that you didn't want to make, but you had to make.
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"It was a combination of things. More than anything, it's my health. I have to fix a few things on that end. I just wasn't going to able to put in the same effort anymore. It wasn't going to be fair to the kids. When the doctor tells you that you have to step away, you have to step away."
Mike Picetti has stepped down as Thomas Worthington football coach after five seasons.
The Cardinals finished 0-10 and 0-5 in the OCC-Cardinal this fall. They went 15-38 in Picetti's tenure with a winning record in 2022 (6-5) and three postseason appearances.
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A special education teacher at Thomas, Picetti previously served as an assistant at Hilliard Bradley, Mount Gilead, Olentangy, Westerville North, Westland and Otterbein. He takes pride in the relationships he has built with players and coaches at Thomas and having a 100% graduation rate among his players.
"It was a blessing being here, being given the opportunity to come to the district and try to help turn around a program that had struggled for so long," he said. "I wish them nothing but the best. ... I'm not being pushed out or anything along those lines. This is just my decision to get my health right."
Several of his players have gone on to play in college, including Francis Brewu, a freshman defensive lineman at Pittsburgh , and Reese Dykstra, a redshirt junior tight end at Long Island .
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"Mike has brought structure, pride and a strong work ethic to our football program," Thomas athletic director Molly Feesler said.
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Picetti hasn't ruled out a return to coaching.
"I'd be open to returning to coaching down the road, but I just have to make sure I get my health right for my family and get that taken care of," he said.
Picetti lives in Delaware with his wife, Gina, and their children, Angelo, 15; and Gabriella, 11.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Thomas Worthington football coach Mike Picetti steps down
