- November 4, 2024
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When Curt Schalit began the Flagler Wolfpack football program 10 years ago, he wasn’t thinking about wins and losses. Schalit wanted to provide a means to keep the youth off the street.
Schalit grew up in a drug-addicted household, poor household, where he says that he often saw horrible things, but he didn’t allow his childhood to dictate his future. Schalit would go on to graduate from college, and he is now a professional surgeon in the Flagler area.
“I always tell the kids that they have choices,” Schalit said. “If you don’t like something about your life, change it.”
Schalit has been the head coach, since he and his wife, Maria Schalit, the Wolfpack’s president, started the team. He doesn’t allow kids to play, no matter how good they may be, if their behavior and grades are not up to par with his requirements.
“I hold football over their heads,” he said. “These games won’t matter years from now. I want them to see me later in life and tell me that they’re good husbands, good fathers, good guys.”
All the kids who have come out to Schalit’s programs have not been blue chip athletes or good conduct students. According to Schalit, a lot of the boys were lazy and unskillful, and others had bad attitudes in the classroom, but now he says that some of them have turned out to be the best players and students.
Schalit and Maria have decided to step down from coaching and the presidency, after this season, to give another family with younger kids the opportunity to take the football program forward.
“I’ve been the only father figure in most of these kid’s live,” Schalit said. “I’ve treated them like my own children. Some of them have been with me since they were knee-high.”
“I believe that coach loves our children as much as we do,” said Maria Guarino, one of the Wolfpack’s parents. “He’s constantly encouraging them in all aspects of life.”
Schalit has the program headed in the best direction for the future leaders of his program.
The Wolfpack are currently undefeated in their season. In their first playoff game against the Flagler Bulldogs, they shut them out 25-0 on Saturday, Nov. 1, in Jacksonville. The Wolfpack will play the Brentwood Hurricanes in the Conference Championship at noon on Saturday, Nov. 8, in Jacksonville. They shut them out 36-0 in the first game of the season. The winner of that game will go to nationals in December.
“We’re looking to win it all this year,” Schalit added. “That would be icing on the cake for me, after all these years.”
Although Schalit is stepping down from coaching, he’ll still be the program director.
“I think the league will be well-rounded with him overseeing everything,” Guarino added. “He’ll have the opportunity to mentor all of the coaches and hopefully influence them the way he has been able to influence the boys.”
The Wolfpack are looking for donations to help fund their potential trip to nationals this year. They can be made at: P.O. Box 1603 Bunnell, FL 32110. Inquires can be made at [email protected].
