By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Our “Getting to Know” series is designed to help the community learn more about the coaches and administrators that are guiding today’s Portage County student-athletes to prepare them to be tomorrow’s leaders.

Today, we get to know Crestwood football head coach Jack D’Amato, who is in his third season leading the Red Devils’ gridiron program.

Q: What schools did you attend growing up?

A: Streetsboro Local School District.

Q: What year did you graduate high school?

A: 2004.

Q: Current occupation?

A: Operator at Blasiole’s Pizza.

Q: What inspired you to be a coach?

A: The ability to change the lives of young men.

Q: What makes being a coach at Crestwood special to you?
A: Crestwood is a special place because of the people in the community. They are behind us and what we are trying to do as a program.

Q: Who has been your biggest influence or mentor as a coach?

A: My dad, Mike D’Amato, has been the biggest influence in my career professionally and personally. From a young age my brother Joe and I were taught leadership skills that would impact us the rest of our lives. We would recite a saying daily to him before school: Dynamic, Flexible, Independent Thinker. Those three characteristics have defined my life and the way that I operate as a man to this day.

Q: Funny story nobody would believe from your playing days?

A: Too many to list, but helping with an elaborate senior prank of putting three goats into the courtyard at the old Streetsboro High School is at the top.

Q: Funny story nobody would believe from your coaching career?

A: “At least we’re not dumb, Dad.”

Q: Favorite TV show?

A: The Office.

Q: Favorite movie:

A: Rambo: First Blood Part II

Q: Favorite musical artist?

A: Zach Bryan.

Q: Favorite food/meal?

A: Previously was pizza. Currently it is chicken and rice.

Q: Best vacation?

A: Rome, Italy and Sicily in 2017.

Q: Shoutout to former teammates.

A: Tommy Stockard, Justin Doherty, Eddy Taylor, Rich McIntyre, Frank Corlett, Matt Atwood, Damian Beauchamp, Tony Smith, Kyan Johnson, Alex Graham, Steve O’Saben, among many, many other great guys.

Q: Favorite quote?

A: Dynamic, flexible, independent thinker.

Q: What is your coaching philosophy?

A: Coaching is a privilege. To be in a position to influence young people at such a formative time in their lives is a tremendous responsibility. A coach should be committed to providing his athletes with every opportunity to improve, as well as create an environment that elicits a disciplined lifestyle in order that your student-athletes may attain their greatest and fullest potential both as a player and as a person.

Q: What does it mean to you to be a Red Devils student-athlete?

A: It is an honor to play football for Crestwood. There have been many great football players that have come before and the responsibility is to live up to the standard that those great players have set.

Q: Favorite restaurant?

A: Blasiole’s Pizza and Mission BBQ.

Q: Favorite teacher from high school?

A: Matt Featherstun.

Q: Advice you would give the younger version of you?
A: Be patient and ask for help.

Q: Favorite coach from your playing days?

A: Rob Atwood, Chuck Collins, John Smith, Tim Budd and our Portage North Vikings coach Bob Dombrowski.