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Writer's picturetgardner1167

End of an Era at Williamsville North

Longtime football coach Mike Mammoliti is hanging up his whistle after a 37-year stint at Williamsville North High School. Mammoliti informed WNYAthletics.com this morning that he advised his staff and players that he was stepping down as the head coach.

Mammoliti was just the third head coach in program history when he took the reins from Jim Calandra back in 2001. He was an assistant with the Spartans the previous thirteen seasons. He credited Calandra and Lou Martini (North’s 1st coach) for helping him in his development as a high school football coach, a job he treasured.

Mammoliti attended Canisius High School where he was a member of the football team before attending the University of Football. His offensive coordinator during his collegiate playing days was Charlie Donnor, whom Mammoliti considers as his biggest influence.

“I have no regrets,” Mammoliti said by phone today. “I was very fortunate to have so many good athletes come through North. I’m very proud to have been able to work with such fine men.” Mammoliti went on to say he is most proud that so many have come back to help the program, after college.

When the late Dick Gallagher asked him during a 2013 interview about what brought him the most joy, Mammoliti said, “When kids learn that they all can play an important role on a team, whatever it may be, just as they would in a family or business.”

Mammoliti entered coaching as a way to give back to kids, to each life-lessons taught through athletics (credit wgrz article 9/6/14).

“I would have liked to have won more games but knowing kids left here with a good experience is a good feeling too,” Mammoliti said.

Coach Mammoliti was one of the first that welcomed WNYAthletics onto his campus and was always very polite and professional during interviews. He will be sorely missed ont he sidelines and we wish him the best.

A head coaching search is underway. Mammoliti told WNYAthletics that he would not stay on as an assistant, even though he will be teaching at North through next fall. He wants the new head coach to “carve his own path.”

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