The Kendall Hammock Warrior football program is a model of the warrior societies of old, bringing those ancient traditions to life in Miami’s Xtreme Football League and racking up victory after victory.

History tells us that warriors were apart of societies where there were specific codes of conduct and organization to ensure success in battle. The Kendall Hammock Warrior football program is a model of the warrior societies of old, bringing those ancient traditions to life in Miami’s Xtreme Football League and racking up victory after victory.

The infusion of professionalism and organization in their football program are key ingredients in their winning formula. And for the Kendall Hammocks Warriors, those two attributes have helped to propel their program from one of non contention to one to be reckoned with.

As with any successful society, the chief warrior is where the codes of conduct are made and handed down. So it is no surprise that coaches and parents point to KH Commissioner Mike Pintado as the reason for the success of their program.

What makes the Warriors so successful is their corporate like structure and attracting kids who are willing to buy into their system. Do they have amazing athletes with lightening speed and gritty toughness? Yes, they have some but in low quantities. By-in-large, they field highly disciplined and trained teams because of their dedicated coaching staff and consistent presence throughout the history of the program.

“The key to our success is consistency in what we do,” Pintado says.

“I don’t make a lot of changes in our coaching staff from year to year, even when they have down years. I find that with the kids that we get, we need to develop them as players and being consistent and keeping them in the same atmosphere, that’s been the recipe for our success.”

So far this year, Kendall Hammock teams are 33-7 against their league competition. None of their seven teams has more than two losses and two of those teams have yet to lose.

THE DISTINGUISHING FACTOR

The winning ways the KH Warriors have might seem curious because of geography. Within 10 to 15 minutes there are five to six programs, some in the same league, which regularly field competitive teams. Logic would suggest that all of these teams could not find players to compete and to win, but at Kendall Hammocks, they never seem to struggle to find players.

Their first registration is always the weekend of the NFL Draft. They tie in a popular football event with their program kickoff in an intriguing way that makes getting the new season started very exciting. The Friday night before the draft is the first open registration is called “Warrior Night.” That is where returning players can come and register and meet again after months of not seeing each other. The event features music, food and fun.

The next day is general registration and the line is always around the block at Devon Aire Park. And despite the desire to win, registrants are taken without discrimination. First come, first served until all the team rosters are filled. Program popularity means the roster spots go very quickly. “We turn away people every year,” says 115 lb Head Coach Jorge Garrigo.

The genius of this recruiting model was all Pintado’s doing. As a coach, he has been around the KH program since 1992. This fall, the Warriors are celebrating their 20th anniversary since their founding as an optimist club in 1989. Pintado initially was involved as a parent and then began coaching and later accepted a position on the executive board.

In 2000, the founding commissioner the Kendall Hammock program, Jose Regalado, who is also the founder of the Miami Xtreme League, approached Pintado about taking on a larger role. Regalado wanted Pintado to become commissioner. Since taking the reigns in 2001, Pintado along with his wife and a host of willing parents and coaches have developed the Hammock program into what it is today, a proven winner. Pintado’s longevity as commissioner is another reason his program is successful, he’s been there and done it all.

AN ORGANIZED OPTIMIST

The organization at KH is seen in every facet of program, from the parent involvement, to the coaching and most importantly the program’s board of directors. “My wife (Shirley Pintado) has been involved with me from the get go, it takes a lot of people to pull it off and it take a tremendous amount of volunteer work,” Pintado adds.

Principal on that list is the Kendall Hammocks group of highly dedicated coaches. They are also highly skilled. “We’re doing seven weight classes this year, and five of those head coaches have been head coaches at a minimum of three years,” Pintado says. Many of Pintado’s coaches double as coaches on the high school level.

Often, on their own coin, coaches attend camps and clinics to fine tune their skills and learn the best techniques to teach their youngsters the game of football. The family-like relationships the coaches have developed over the years, along with their lack of significant turnover leads to strong bonds and better coaching because of familiarity and consistency with their athletes.

ROME WAS NOT BUILT IN A DAY

The recent success of this program does not wipe away the past. KH has come a long way. “I can tell you when I we first started there, we used to struggle,” Pintado says.

“Our success is to develop players. If we had a roster of 27, and 18 or 20 of those guys played last year, we’re going to be pretty good. The last three to four years, we have been pretty successful in the Xtreme League.”.

Opponents would agree.

And just like many South Florida youth programs, KH has its share of collegiate and NFL stars. Mike Pintado’s own son Chris is currently playing on the defending national champion Florida Gators team at linebacker. Another former Warrior, Dorian Munroe plays safety for the Gators.

Probably the most popular alumnus of the KH program is Tennessee Titans Middle Linebacker Stephen Tulloch. The Miami native played for the Warriors for eight years from 1992-2000. In each of the last two years, Tulloch has put on a football camp through his foundation for the benefit of the Hammock program. It’s his way of giving back to a program he says helped him tremendously. “It obviously was a great experience playing for the Warriors. It really introduced me to football and that is where I fell in love with the game. I learned a lot of things on those fields including discipline and to always work hard.”

“I want to prepare kids for the next level and then for the kids that this is all the football their going to play, give them the knowledge of the game they need for the rest of their lives,” Pintado says..

So far this season, the Kendall Hammocks teams are showing tremendous promise. Head Coach Ron Flores’s 65 lb. team is 4-2, Robert King’s 90 lb. team is 5-1, Jose Cisneros’ 105 lb. team is also 5-1 and Scott Tedesco’s 140 lb team is 3-2.

Here’s an in depth look at some of their most successful teams:

Weight Class: 75's

Record: 6-0

Head Coach: Benjamin Young

Offense: Power I & Wishbone

Each practice for this unit begins with individual drills. The KH 75 lb. team is big on teaching fundamentals, and that’s important when you are dealing with seven and eight year old kids.

Attendance and punctuality at practice are both points of emphasis. And as with any good team, discipline plays a big role. “They’ve gotta line ups straight and if they don’t, we start over again,” says Head Coach Benjamin Young.

Coach Young has an extensive football background as he’s been coaching for 22 years. He is the current G. Holmes (Miami) Braddock High Junior Varsity Offensive Coordinator. He began coaching youth football at Kendall Boys & Girls club in 1986 and was lured back this year by his offensive coordinator, Ron Ilhardt. Coach Young also enjoys coaching this team because he gets to interact with his son Ben.

“When you come here, there’s a hierarchy of people to report to. If you need something, you know who you can talk to…everyone is helpful.”

For Coach Young, this year’s team goals are simple. He wants success and respect. When asked what are some of the things are that have transformed KH into a successful program, Young responded by saying it is “the integrity the park instills and the parents raising the kids well and teaching them morals and standards.” These outside influences, Young feels, translate into wins on the field.

Weight Class: 115's

Record: 5-0

Head Coach: Jorge Garrigo

Offense: Wing-T

Defense: 5-3 & 4-4

With the admission that they might not have the talent level that other teams boast, this team’s success comes from discipline and making fewer mistakes than its opponents. Going into each game, they focus on execution on each snap of the ball and netting positive yards that lead to scores and in turn, wins.

Coach Garrigo has been coaching youth football for six years; this year is his second as the head football coach. When it comes to football knowledge, he’s a student of the game. He is surrounded by a wealth of experienced coaches as well. Offensive Coordinator Joe McCrink is the Head Coach of the Junior Varsity squad at G. Holmes (Miami) Braddock High.

The excellence this team has achieved is not limited to the field. “We instill academics more than anything,” Coach Garrigo says. “Our players succeed on and off the field. Last year, this team had a combined grade point average of 3.5. They are smart and enjoy the challenges we give them on a daily basis.”.

“Our program flourishes because of a flag football league that runs just prior to the start of tackle football.” With a six week head start in practices and games without pads, coaches can get a read on players and their skills and begin to work on techniques and fundamentals that will help them during the tackle football season.

Weight Class: 125's

Record: 5-1

Head Coach: Raul Gonzalez

Offense: Double Wing

Defense: 46 Gambler

With a degree in psychology from Florida International University, Coach Raul Gonzalez develops winning teams by learning how to get the most out of his kids. “I deal with what motivates each kid and just tweak it as he advances and grows,” he says. “I have really invested a lot of time in learning to deal with kids.”

It has been time well spent for Gonzalez, who doubles as the Assistant Commissioner for the Kendall Hammocks Youth Football Program. He is the defending Miami Xtreme 115 lb. weight division champion. Now he’s elevated last year’s championship team to a new weight class and expecting the same results.

Coach Gonzalez’s offense is a bit unconventional. He runs the double wing with a spread look similar to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. “We’re not going to out run any teams but we will out power them.” He went to the double wing offense because it fits the size, speed and talent level his teams generally possess.

“Anyone can develop an all star team and coach but if you get any kid off the street and win, now you’re coaching.

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