Saturday, Jun. 06, 2009

Pardini resigns Pasco boys soccer post

HERALD STAFF

Mike Pardini, who led Pasco to its first ever boys state soccer championship as a player in 1999 and then coached the Bulldogs to their second title in 2007, resigned as head coach after compiling a 61-11 record over four years.

"I decided now is a good time for me to step away and reflect," said Pardini, who recently led Pasco into the 4A championship game, losing 2-1 to South Kitsap. "I want to spend more time with my family and a little more time with my job."

Pardini, who was a Bulldogs' assistant under Chad Bodnar from 2004-2005, led the team to three straight league and district titles from 2007-2009.

He had the option of leaving Pasco to coach at Chiawana High School, an opportunity that a few Bulldogs coaches have already taken. But Pardini, who works at Bechtel, said he would have stayed with the Bulldogs had he decided to remain in coaching.

Pardini, the 2007 4A state Coach of the Year, did not rule out a return to coaching.