Pittsburg State in Kansas has been fielding a football team since 1929.

More than 1,000 players have donned its red-and-yellow uniforms. The school has achieved a consistent run of success, including three national titles in its class.

A few years ago, the Gorillas announced their all-century team, which featured just 33 players from its more than 70 years of gridiron history. Sam Pittman, NIU’s offensive line coach and assistant head coach, was among the honorees.

Sounds like a pretty cool deal, right Sam?

“It was a big deal, I guess,” Pittman said.

Maybe not. But that response speaks volumes about Pittman. The man represents a refreshing change of pace from the me-me-me culture that has invaded the contemporary sporting scene.

He doesn’t brag. He’s respectful and well-spoken when being interviewed. Heck, he even calls NIU football secretary Julie Edwards “Miss Julie.”

The man won’t even toot his own horn to his parents. They didn’t find out about their son being named to his alma mater’s all-century team until they read it in this year’s NIU media guide.

“I probably just forgot about it,” he said.

Pittman would forget his name if it wasn’t on his driver’s license. That’s because he doesn’t worry about himself. All he’s concerned with is improving his players’ football skills, and more importantly, his players’ lives.

Difference maker

Pittman hails from El Reno, a little town in the heart of Oklahoma, so normally he speaks with a slow, lazy cowboy drawl. He’s straight out of central casting.

But ask Pittman about making a difference in his players’ lives and all that goes out the window. The broad-shouldered Pittman talks a little faster, leans forward in his chair, pushes his Big Gulp to the side.

The 43-year-old Pittman truly cares about the welfare of his players. He’s not blowing smoke.

His dedication to his players’ off-the-field affairs harkens back to his academic struggles at Pittsburg State.

“It took dummy here six years to finish school,” Pittman said. “I was terrible.”

Pittman wants to make sure his players don’t have the same problem. He makes it a point to meet with his players every Thursday to talk about their school work.

Because he took six years to get his college degree, Pittman feels like he wasted one year of his life. His players have been the beneficiaries of his struggles.

“It’s a big, big emphasis for me to make sure that our kids go to school and graduate on time or ahead of time,” Pittman said.

Junior offensive tackle Doug Free appreciates Pittman’s efforts.

“He’s always making sure we’re getting things done in the classroom,” Free said. “Having someone who makes sure we don’t slack off [in class] is nice, especially for the younger guys.”

Pittman’s connection to his players doesn’t end when they’re done smashing into other large men on fall Saturdays.

Whether it’s from a star player who made it to the NFL or a backup who got a raise at the local factory, Pittman loves to hear from his former charges.

“Some of the most gratifying times I’ve ever had as a coach is receiving a letter or a phone call or an e-mail from someone who says I’ve made a difference in their lives,” Pittman said.

Coaching vagabond

Pittman always swore he wouldn’t be one of those guys who made more stops in his coaching career than a motorist on a busy Los Angeles freeway. Circumstances dictated otherwise, however, and Pittman has assumed the role of nomad.

In the last 10 years, Pittman has coached at six universities. His longest stay is his current run at NIU, where he’s been since 2003. He also coached at NIU from 1994-95.

He says all the job changes have not had a negative effect on himself and his wife Jamie. By all signs, Pittman’s a football-lifer.

“I always looked at it as I was fortunate to get the next [job],” Pittman said. “It was a chance to … meet more people and try to influence more people.”

Pittman has been a part of four staff firings, where in his words, “they fire everyone and you roll on down the road.”

He’s been forced to second-guess his coaching skills each time, but Pittman said he’s never thought he wouldn’t be able to find a job.

“I think everybody should be fired,” Pittman said. “It’s the most humbling experience. Your true character’s going to come out when you get fired, when you lose.”

Finding a home

For the first time in nearly 20 years, Sam Pittman did not have a job for the 2002 season. He was still getting paid full salary and benefits from Kansas, where he had signed a 30-month contract in 2001, but Pittman was a free agent in 2002.

He did do some volunteer coaching for Northern Iowa, but Pittman had a lot of free time.

“It was kinda nice,” Pittman said. “I was getting paid pretty good money there at Kansas and I wasn’t going to just take any job.”

Pittman said he was offered multiple jobs during his coaching hiatus, but he didn’t find the money involved to be worth giving up his Kansas pay.

All that changed when NIU coach Joe Novak entered the picture in February 2003.

“I needed a job and I had heard so many nice things about coach Novak,” Pittman said. “He offered me a job and I took that sucker.”

After NIU’s breakout 10-2 season in 2003, Pittman had other schools banging on his door. Novak knew he had to keep Pittman, so he offered Pittman the role of assistant head coach.

“Sam had other opportunities elsewhere, so it was a chance to reward him for the job he’d done here,” Novak said.

After 22 years in coaching, Pittman has found a home in DeKalb. He likes the community and Pittman has a good boss in Novak.

Most importantly, Pittman hasn’t had to worry if his head will be on the chopping block. Gone are the days of coaching at four different schools in four years.

“It’s been the best thing that’s happened to me in coaching,” Pittman said of NIU. “It’s really nice knowing that at the end of each year you have a job.”

Pittman also knows he would like to be a head coach someday. Novak, for one, doesn’t think Pittman will have any trouble.

“I don’t think there’s any question he’ll be one,” Novak said.

Perhaps Pittman will get his head-coaching opportunity at NIU. Novak’s contract is over after the 2007 season. The 60-year-old Huskie boss has said he won’t coach forever like a Joe Paterno or a Bobby Bowden.

Or perhaps Pittman will become the head man somewhere else. He just wants the opportunity.

“I want to be a head football coach,” Pittman said. “If that’s here and it’s meant to be here then that’s what it’ll be. And if it’s not, hopefully I’ll have the opportunity to be a head coach somewhere.”

Whatever the future holds for Pittman, be assured he will face it humbly and modestly.

“I get credit here for things that really aren’t my doing,” Pittman said. “We’ve been very fortunate because we’ve had good players.”

NIU has good coaches too, Sam. Take some credit.