Phil Pitts steps down as Helias Football Coach

Phil Pitts will step down as Helias football coach, he told ABC 17 Sports Director Austin Kim this morning. Pitts, the coach at Helias for the last four season, said he is looking to pursue collegiate opportunities.

Pitts said he could not comment further on what his new coaching ventures were. PowerMizzou reports Pitts will join the Mizzou coaching staff in some capacity. Pitts, a graduate of Helias high school, played at the University of Missouri from 2001 to 2004.

“We are so very excited for Coach Pitts and his family as they pursue this new opportunity,” said Father Stephen W. Jones, President of Helias high school, said in a release. “We are also sad to be losing such a valued member of our faculty and coaching staff.”

Helias added the school could also not comment on Pitts’ new coaching opportunties.

The former Missouri lineman spent the last ten seasons at Helias, starting as an assistant then moving his way up to the Crusaders’ head coaching position in 2011. He took over for Chris Hentges after Hentges stepped down.

Pitts took Helias to the state finals in 2012 and 2013, falling to Webb City both times. He also coached current Alabama commit Hale Hentges.