Familiar Face Returns to Head Montclair Prep

Montclair Prep turned to its past to fill a coaching vacancy, hiring George Giannini to head the football team. Giannini replaces Pat Blackburn, who left last month after two seasons to become Alemany’s new coach.

Giannini is a 1969 graduate of Montclair Prep and served two terms as the Mounties’ coach. He led Montclair Prep to eight Delphic League championships and a Southern Section title from 1970 to ’78 when the school fielded an 8-man team. He returned in ‘82-’83 when Montclair Prep graduated to an 11-man program in the Alpha League, posting a 13-8 record in two seasons.

Giannini then moved to Colorado and joined the staff at Aspen High. As head coach last fall, he led Aspen to a 7-2 record. Giannini was a late applicant for the job but once Principal V. E. Simpson knew he was interested, none of the other candidates stood a chance.

“We had about 25 applicants and had narrowed our list down to three of four when I got a call from George two weeks ago,” Simpson said. “He flew down here a week later and we told him he was our No. 1 choice.”

Giannini will run the team’s spring practice in May and will join the faculty as physical education teacher in the fall. He also might coach in the school’s track and golf programs, Simpson said.

After a meeting with the football team Monday, Giannini was optimistic about next season. Montclair Prep was 12-9 in two seasons under Blackburn.

“Blackburn had a winning program so it should be easy to step in,” Giannini said. “This is a positive group of kids who are committed to a winning sports program. I think we’ll be competing for the league title next season.”