GENERAL BLUES: Chris DePiero was named the new Director of Athletics for St. Michael’s College School, April 25. He will officially take over for retiring teacher Enzo Vitullo on July 1.
Former Oshawa Generals head coach Chris DePiero has been named the next athletics director for St. Michael’s College School.
The alumnus, and current teacher of religion and phys ed at the Forest Hill school was named to the post April 25.
His first day will be July 1, but DePiero says he is eager to start.
“It’s a position I really, really see myself doing, so I was really excited by it,” he said in an interview soon after the announcement. “It’s something, as an alumnus and someone who’s coached hockey, it’s something in that next evolution for me.
“A lot of things I’m at philosophically — athlete development, and coach development — is what excites me. To be a part of a group that can help create a nice little culture here, that’s what really excites me.”
DePiero takes over from Enzo Vitullo, who is retiring after 23 years of teaching. Vitullo succeeded former football coach Paul Forbes two years ago.
St. Mike’s varsity teams have traditionally had success at the provincial level and in CISAA, most recently winning at 4A OFSAA in hockey, DePiero’s milieu of choice.
The toughest challenge, he says, is securing that winning tradition.
“It’s a long-standing tradition from an athletics standpoint, and just to continue on that student-athlete focus, coach development, and creating an environment and culture of athletic excellence,” he told the Town Crier.
DePiero joined the faculty in 1999 as a Grade 7 core instructor. He has taught many subjects and also led St. Mike’s Buzzers to two consecutive Ontario Junior Hockey League championships, in 2004-05 and 2005-06.