Ponaganset High School Athletic Hall of Fame
Induction Class of 2014
Patrick Pedder
Coach 1985-2006: Girls Soccer
Pat Pedder began his coaching career in 1975 with the inception of the Burrillville-Glocester Youth Soccer Association (BGYSA). For years, he coached boys and girls at various age levels. But after recognizing that Ponaganset’s lack of a high school team left girls nowhere to play competitively after the eighth grade, Pat began coaching the BGYSA Under-16 Girls’ Spring Select travel team.
Soon after – in 1985 – Pat, with the help of a few community members and parents, started a girls’ soccer program at PHS. He was hired as the head coach and the program took off. In the early years, Pat had to raise funds to provide the girls with uniforms and other necessary equipment. But in just its second year as a program, Ponaganset won a Suburban Division Co-Championship under Pat’s tutelage. One year later, in 1987, his Chieftains won the Suburban West Championship. Pat continued coaching the program for 22 years before retiring in 2006.
Throughout his 22 years at the helm of the program, Pat boasted a career record of 183-118-81 and was named the 1996 Woonsocket Call Coach of the Year. He was a member of the Rhode Island Girls’ Soccer Coaches Association, serving as both vice president and president, and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2010. During Pat’s coaching years, he won seven divisional titles and two state championships, including one undefeated season. He also coached a Rhode Island Gatorade Player of the Year, who was later selected as a High School All-American. He has also had several players go on to very successful collegiate careers.