Coach Pasterchick

2022 Hall of Fame Tribute Explore this photo album by San Antonio Sports on Flickr!

The article below written by Greg Lucas appeared in the San Antonio Express News last week.

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Focused on people over performance, George Pasterchick earned spot in San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame

When George Pasterchick ended his 32-year tenure as St. Gerard football coach in 2006, more than 700 people turned out for his retirement party.

As she thumbed through the pages of the guest book years later, Pasterchick’s daughter Georgia Bartlett was struck by all the former players who mentioned nicknames Pasterchick once gave them. Some even signed with the monikers.

For many, the names were as simple as their initials, or “Big Guy.” Bartlett, who grew used to being called “Peaches” more than her actual name, viewed the nicknames as a sign of endearment, showing that Pasterchick fostered an individualized connection with nearly everyone he encountered.

“That’s why he’s still so loved and remembered by everyone he worked with, because of the way he made them feel,” Bartlett said. “He made them feel so special.”

Through Pasterchick’s 44-year coaching career, the personal bonds he formed transcended the names and numbers on the backs of uniforms.

He coached semi-pro teams across three decades, was a fixture in San Antonio’s annual high school all-star game for more than 30 years, and won the 1985 Texas Christian Interscholastic League state championship at St. Gerard.

When he was announced as part of the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame’s 2022 class, a group that will be inducted Saturday, his son Steve started getting text messages and emails from former players and students at St. Gerard describing how Pasterchick had touched their lives.

“He always said that football was the game of life, and he was a lot more interested in teaching life than he was football,” Steve Pasterchick said. “That kind of thing was very, very important to him, that all of his athletes, the players that he worked with, the students at the schools, they understood how to be a part of not only his team, but their family’s team and community’s team.”

Pasterchick, who died in 2012 at age 82, earned respect and admiration from his peers independent of a 152-185-2 record at St. Gerard.

He also coached the San Antonio Toros in the Continental Football League in the late 1960s, then worked with the San Antonio Charros and Bulls in the ’70s and ’80s. Other highlights included scouting for several NFL teams, a short stint coaching a team in Monterrey, Mexico, and a post-retirement gig as a part-time assistant at Texas Military Institute.

Despite opportunities to pursue jobs at larger, more competitive programs, Pasterchick chose to stay rooted with the people and community at St. Gerard for the bulk of his career.

“He just found a home and didn’t have any desire to go anywhere else,” Bartlett said. “It was something that he just fell in love with.”

Pasterchick strived to instill in his players qualities like responsibility, dedication and passion — something he wasn’t afraid to wear on his sleeve, Bartlett said.

Through the years, Bartlett heard stories of Pasterchick’s enduring connection to players and students. One told her that Pasterchick and his wife were at the hospital when his son was born prematurely.

During a trip to an eye doctor a couple of years back, Bartlett was approached by a woman who said she wouldn’t have graduated from St. Gerard if Pasterchick hadn’t fought to help her find a scholarship.

“They supported kids through the rest of their lives,” Bartlett said. “Some of the things you’re going to face during a game, you’re going to face in your life, and you have to be able to handle those things.”

When Bartlett’s children entered athletics, she called on Pasterchick’s habit of reminding players to have fun rather than wishing them good luck.

When Steve, now a football and track coach in Mississippi, started in the coaching profession, one piece of his father’s advice jumped forward.

“You can get after them on the field,” Steve said, “but you better never leave that locker room without giving them a hug and talking about what happened, and making sure everything is OK.”

Though Pasterchick never emphasized his own accomplishments, Bartlett heard him wonder aloud whether he might someday earn induction to the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame.

As the moment at last arrives Saturday, Bartlett said the celebration is not just for Pasterchick, but for all the lives he impacted.

“This is something he definitely would be so, so proud of,” Bartlett said. “I wish he were here to hear it, but we’re glad to represent him, and we feel like we’re representing all of his teams and all of his players.”



Greg Luca
Sports Reporter

Last night Coach Pasterchick was inducted into the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame.

This was a long overdue honor and we wish he and Mrs. Pasterchick had been able to accept and witness in person, but we know for certain there was quite the party in heaven last night and they were front row to see this amazing celebration of his life’s work.

It was an unforgettable night, thank you to everyone for all the incredible support!

Memorial Service for Maxine Pasterchick is Thursday(2/10) at 9:30am at Mission Park North Funeral Chapel.
Visitation will be held prior to the service from 8:30-9:30am.

In lieu of flowers, the Pasterchick family requests donations be made to the St. Gerard's Alumni Association in honor of her beloved Royals.
Donations can be mailed to the following address:
1927 Alumni Friends & Association
P.O. Box 34034
San Antonio, TX 78265

Funeral arrangements for Mrs. Pasterchick

Coach and his #1 fan are finally reunited in heaven, Mrs. Pasterchick passed away today at the age of 90.
She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother and will be missed dearly……

Just a reminder to send us your Coach Pasterchick stories! The deadline is Jan. 1!!
Thank you to those that have already emailed us, we love reading these stories!

As we assist in preparing the tribute for Coach Pasterchick at the Hall of Fame induction, we want to invite you to send us your personal best memory/story/ pictures (we promise to keep the pictures safe and return to you) and/or how he impacted your life.
We will give all of this to the videographer and they will decide what (if any) can be used on the short video that will be shown at the HOF Tribute Gala in April.
We have heard many of your stories over the year but the main reason for this request is personal. We would like to be able to put a book together for his grandkids and great grandchildren and also to be able to read them to Mrs. Pasterchick.

We are all so proud and we appreciate all of you sending your congratulations and love. Thanks for always remembering him and keeping his memory alive.

Please share with others who may not get this request.

You can send your story/quote to:
Georgia Pasterchick Bartlett
[email protected]
[email protected]

If sending pictures, we can pm you the address.

Requested date: by January 1, 2022

As we assist in preparing the tribute for Coach Pasterchick at the Hall of Fame induction, we want to invite you to send us your personal best memory/story/ pictures (we promise to keep the pictures safe and return to you) and/or how he impacted your life.
We will give all of this to the videographer and they will decide what (if any) can be used on the short video that will be shown at the HOF Tribute Gala in April.
We have heard many of your stories over the year but the main reason for this request is personal. We would like to be able to put a book together for his grandkids and great grandchildren and also to be able to read them to Mrs. Pasterchick.

We are all so proud and we appreciate all of you sending your congratulations and love. Thanks for always remembering him and keeping his memory alive.

Please share with others who may not get this request.

You can send your story/quote to:
Georgia Pasterchick Bartlett
[email protected]
[email protected]

If sending pictures, we can pm you the address.

Requested date: by January 1, 2022

Proud to announce that Coach George Pasterchick, was chosen to be a member of the 2022 Class of the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame! We know he is smiling and dancing in the streets of Heaven!

Thank you to everyone who has sent letters and shared, keep them coming! They are trying to get this done in time for the last home football game on Nov 2.......We appreciate all the love and support ❤️👑💙

👑 👑Royals Family 👑👑
We need your help, thanks to SGH's current football coach Tim Holt and some special alumni we have a chance to petition the archdiocese to officially name the SGH football field after Coach Pasterchick. His 34 years of service and undeniable dedication, not only to athletics, but to anyone he met or taught, make him more than worthy of this honor.
Please email Coach Tim Holt directly at [email protected] and share your memories of him, special stories and why you think the stadium should be renamed to honor Coach Pasterchick!
Thank you in advance!
GO ROYALS ❤️👑💙