Pat Hinkel: Go to Guy
May 11, 2009
After meeting with representatives from the eight competing nations at the Junior World Championship Official Flag Raising Ceremony in Canton, Matt and I packed up our gear and headed north to St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland. St. Ignatius is home to Head Coach Chuck Kyle and Team USA DB, Pat Hinkel.
Coach Kyle is one of the most successful coaches in Ohio high school football history. No other prep program has won more football titles since the inception of the state’s playoff system in 1972 than St. Ignatius. He has 10 state championships, three national championships, and named coach of the year several times. However, Kyle is quite humble and rarely talks about his success. An attribute that we also found in Team USA’s Pat Hinkel.
At 6′1 190-lbs, Hinkle played strong safety for Kyle at St. Ignatius, which won their 10th championship this past season. Hinkle was dressed in a shirt and tie for the interview, although not the tie he normally would wear. Students at St. Ignatius take great pride in wearing the same tie all four years, which is often frayed by the end of their senior year.
As the only player on Team USA to have first-hand experience under Kyle, Hinkel is confident that the other players will respond to him. “He is a great motivator, and teaches you life lessons on and off the field,” added Hinkel. When pushed for insight into what other team members may expect from Kyle, Hinkel said, “Do things right the first time. And don’t take any shortcuts.”
Coach Kyle was eager to talk about Hinkel’s selection to Team USA. “I was hoping that one of my kids would have the opportunity. You need guys like Pat Hinkel,” said Kyle. Hinkel is an unselfish player and someone Coach Kyle can count on to make the play. Hinkel earned all-district and second-team all-state honors, as well as serving as captain for both football and basketball.
Kyle is looking forward to meeting other players, and getting Team USA ready for competition. Developing camaraderie, brotherhood, and friendship between teammates will be the key to success. ”We have a limited amount of time; it will be interesting to see how quickly these kids can form a team,” added Kyle.
As we made our way through the campus of St. Ignatius, yes it’s a campus, we learned more about not only the football tradition but the history of St. Ignatius. The school opened in 1886, and was known as St Ignatius College. Students were admitted after six years of grammar school and received a bachelor’s degree. There was no distinction between high school and college. In 1902 high school and college departments were established, and the high school program was extended to four years. In 1923 the college department changed its name to John Carroll University and moved to University Heights in 1935. St. Ignatius High School has remained at the original location.
- Mick
