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Pirates Name Patrick Pass Head Coach

November 9, 2019 - National Arena League (NAL)
Massachusetts Pirates News Release


The Massachusetts Pirates have announced that former three-time Super Bowl Champion Patrick Pass will be the Head Coach for the 2020 season. Pass becomes the third Head Coach in the history of the franchise.

Pass, who served as the Pirates Director of Player Development last season, Anthony Payton who departed at the end of the year to take the same position with the Carolina Cobras. Payton guided the team to an eight and six record in the regular season before losing to the Cobras 30 to 26 in the National Arena League playoffs.

Pass wants to see success for the team and his players as individuals.

'First, I'm very excited to be Head Coach and mentor for the Massachusetts Pirates. I'm looking forward to continuing to build a strong solid program. I want to create a winning culture around here with mentally and physically tough football players. I know some of these kids have dreams and aspirations to make that leap to the next level and I want them to use my expertise in any way to help make that happen," he said.

That expertise is abundant when looking at the resume of the new head coach.

New England Patriots drafted Pass from the University of Georgia in the seventh round (239 overall) in 2000. Pass enjoyed an eight-year career in the NFL. In 79 games he rushed 128 times for 526 yards and three touchdowns and had 66 receptions for 570 yards and a score. During most of his career he was a blocking fullback, but he did see time at running back, wide receiver and kick returner.

In 2002 Pass earned his first Super Bowl ring as the Patriots defeated the St. Louis Rams 20-17 for the first title in franchise history. In 2004 his second ring was secured as the Patriots defeated the Carolina Panthers 32-29. The following season (2005) was statistically his best in the NFL. Pass rushed for a career high 245 yards as a running back filling in for the injured Corey Dillion. That season Pass also set career marks with 54 carries, an average of 4.5 yards per carry, three touchdowns, 227 receiving yards and 10.3 yards per catch. He was the starting fullback in Super Bowl XXXIX as the Patriots defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21. In 2007, Pass also was a member of the Houston Texans and the New York Giants.

Pirates Owner Jawad Yatim has had Pass in his corner since the inception of the franchise and sees his elevation to Head Coach as a logical next step.

"Pat has been around since day one. He's been someone I had and will continue to lean on when I have questions about certain situations that come about during a season, and how particular scenarios were handled in some of his previous experiences throughout his career. At first, he was Patrick Pass, now he's Pat and I'm definitely glad to have him at the helm of our football team. His resume speaks for itself and I have nothing but the utmost respect for him. The guys will respond well to his coaching and I believe he'll be able to maximize our players potential, and that was big for me regarding what I was looking for in a head coach," Yatim said.

After making the National Arena League playoffs the last two seasons, Pass knows that taking the Pirates to another level won't be easy.

"We definitely have a tough task ahead of us this season, but I trust our coaches and players to handle any and all adversity that we may face. When you win people love you and we definitely want and deserve the love throughout the community and the National Arena League," Pass added.

Pass, who grew up in Scottdale, GA, attended the University of Georgia where he played running back, quarterback, receiver and returned kicks. In four seasons with the Bulldogs he rushed 221 times for 1,022 yards and scored five touchdowns. He also caught 35 balls for 435 yards and two scores. Before his freshman season he was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 1996 Major League Baseball draft and played that summer in the Marlins' farm system. He also played in the Marlins' minor league system before his sophomore and junior season in 1997 and 1998.

This is the second head coaching position for Pass. In 2012 he was named the Head Coach of the Boston Freedom Fighters, a professional developmental team in the National Spring Football League. In 2015 he was also a defensive backs coach for the Boston Renegades, a women's team in the Women's Football Alliance.

The Massachusetts Pirates are members of the National Arena League (NAL). The Pirates play all home games at the DCU Center located at 50 Forster St. Worcester, MA, 01608. Pirates season tickets for the 2020 season are now available starting at $99.00. For more information on the Massachusetts Pirates please call (508) 452-MASS (6277), email contact@masspiratesfootball.com or visit www.masspiratesfootball.com. Follow the Pirates on Facebook, at Facebook.com/MAPirates, on Instagram @mass.pirates, as well as on Twitter @mass_pirates.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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