Dick Rote, former Athletic Director and Varsity Football coach of the Pleasantville School District, was inducted into the Westchester Sports Hall of Fame on October 23, 2013. On October 22, the evening before the induction ceremony, he was honored by the Board of Education at its meeting. Superintendent of Schools Mary Fox-Alter said, in introducing him, “I am honored and privileged…to recognize an outstanding achievement earned by a man whose name is legend in Pleasantville and in the region. A man whose reputation is marked by three words – honesty, integrity, and organization.” Joining her at the podium were Board President Shane McGaffey and current Varsity Football coach Tony Becerra, who coached under and nominated Rote and succeeded him as only the third head PHS football coach since 1948.
Mr. Rote, a 1959 graduate of Pleasantville High School, joined the district’s staff in 1969 as a physical education teacher. For three years he was the assistant football coach under Pete Kurachek, who had been his coach when he played football for PHS. When Kurachek retired in 1973, Rote became Athletic Director and head football coach, positions he held until his own retirement in 2004. During those years, Rote’s football teams compiled a 191 – 78 – 4 record; made 16 bowl appearances; won 10 league and 4 section championships; and had three undefeated seasons (1973, 1981, and 1991). He was named Coach of the Year in 1976. Rote also coached the golf team, from 1976-2004, to 10 league and 3 section championships and was named the Pleasantville School District’s 1992-1993 Teacher of the Year.
