Mission Football: Plenty of memories for Hamilton

ST IGNATIUS - When asked about his favorite memory coaching

Mission Bulldogs football, Peter Hamilton can't make up his

mind.

ST IGNATIUS - When asked about his favorite memory coaching Mission Bulldogs football, Peter Hamilton can't make up his mind.

"I've have many of the team," Hamilton "Probably too many to count."

Hamilton will be leaving St. Ignatius to become the high school principal in Cut Bank.

Hamilton and the Bulldogs had a turnaround season last year and were just a game away from qualifying for the playoffs. At 5-3, it was their first winning season since 2001. In just his third year of coaching, he had righted the ship and the future looks bright for Mission athletics.

"Last year was a good building-block," Hamilton said. "We have nine returning starters for next year, I felt like I left the football program better than when I found it."

Hamilton credited last year's turnaround to the kids' willingness to get into the weight room.

"They worked their butts off and they did a good job getting into the weight room when we asked them to," Hamilton said.

Hamilton will leave in June to move to Cut Bank, and the St. Ignatius community has shown their appreciation to their football coach.

"I've had people bring dinner out," Hamilton said. "The community has been great."

There's plenty of hard work ahead for the football coach in his future job but he's not one to shy away from taking things on.

"I'm excited about the new challenge," Hamilton said. "It's going to be a good stepping stone for me. The first year you always learn a lot, just like my first year of coaching football I learned a lot."

Hamilton added that he wanted to thank the community and the school for all they've done for him.

They've certainly provided a lot of memories.