New pucks coach at PHS

JEREMIAH BARTZ/ Frontiersman sports editor

PALMER - Dino Pagano has an eclectic background.

He has a degree in natural resource management and wildlife biology from Rutgers. He teaches drafting at Palmer High School. For 13 years he owned an outfitting business, and guided anglers to the hottest fly fishing spots in Southwestern Montana. During that time he appeared on numerous outdoor sportsman television shows on ESPN and the Outdoor Life Network.

And h´e has spent some time in hockey rinks too.

PHS activities director Brandon Blake admits, jokingly, he is not sure whether he is more impressed by Pagano's hockey or fly fishing career.

Regardless, Blake and Palmer High were impressed enough by Pagano's hockey past to name him the head coach of the Moose hockey program.

&#8221He has a lot of hockey in his background. He's really knowledgeable, and just a really good guy,“ Blake said. &#8221We're excited to have him.“

Pagano grew up on the East Coast, and throughout his childhood he was involved with the sport. After high school Pagano was invited to play for the Rochester Junior Americans, a junior hockey franchise in New York. Rather than playing junior hockey, Pagano decided he wanted to have an opportunity to play college hockey. He skated his first year for Upsala College, a Division III program.

Pagano said, in the interest of his academics, he decided to make the move to Rutgers after a year at Upsala. He played his final three seasons for a Rutgers club squad that was part of the East Coast Athletic Conference.

After graduating from Rutgers in 1993, Pagano, an avid fly fisherman, began guiding an eventually appeared on television.

&#8221I spent the summers doing some guiding. I met some of the right folks, and ended up doing T.V. shows,“ Pagano said.

Although there is always an interest in the sport, after his college career Pagano took a break from hockey until his children were old enough to play. Once they hit that age, he once again found himself on the ice.

&#8221Some of these organizations, once they find out you have an interest in the game, they say you can volunteer too,“ Pagano said. &#8221That's really what sparked my interest in coaching - the potential impact I had.“

Initially, Pagano applied to become a member of just the PHS teaching staff. But during the interview process, the Palmer administration saw he had a vast hockey background, and Pagano mentioned he would like to get involved with the Palmer program. Pagano was able to land the teaching job, and the hockey position was an added bonus.

Until now, all of Pagano's coaching experience has been at the youth level, but he said he is eager to begin leading older players.

&#8221I'm really looking forward to coaching at that level,“ Pagano said. &#8221I've always had an interest, because you really can coach to win.“

Pagano said his goal is to build a respectable and ethical program. He also wants to follow in the path that former head coach Norm Rousey started to pave last year. Rousey, probably the busiest coach at PHS, stepped aside, so Palmer could hire Pagano.

&#8221Norm was really happy to step aside,“ Blake said. &#8221He's busier than ever, but he'll be right there in the trenches.“

Rousey, who is also the head coach of the Palmer High cross-country running and track teams, will stay on the hockey staff as the assistant.

&#8221When I met Norm for the first time, we instantly hit it off,“ Pagano said. &#8221It's absolutely essential for me to have Norm around. He understands the league. He understands the competition.“

He knows that the program has struggled recently, and said he was eager to see that change. Though the season has not started, Pagano said he is already impressed with what he has seen.

&#8221Just to stick around shows a level of integrity and pride,“ Pagano said.