After 23 years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, strength and conditioning coach Marcel Pastoor is leaving the team to pursue other interests. He announced this via his LinkedIn. Here is just a portion of the post he put up about leaving the team:
Steelers Nation, and all my connections, Thank you so much. I have been unbelievably gifted to work for the greatest company, greatest owners, and coaches and staff for the past 23 years, and I am ready for a change. Starting at the top, whatever you heard about the Rooney family, you dont even know half of it. They truly are amazing people, and the character every day. I can not be grateful enough to them, and would do anything ever asked for the Rooney family, and for Coach Cowher, and for Mike Tomlin. True leaders in all regards. As well as my mentors, Chet Fuhrman and Garrett Giemont. I was able to work with Chet for 6 years, and 17 years with Gie. Gie and I were practically married LOL. We shared a very small office together for 11 years, and knew each other better than anyone. we knew each other better than our wives. He is not only a great mentor to me, for me, he was guidance, and a best friend and dad all combined in one. To all the players, thousands and thousands that i have seen come through here, i can not list them all. I cant say who was in my top 10, top 100, top 250. the relationships i have made with them is what this job is all about. My strength coach role was the second role I had with the players. Having the personal connection, and having an office for them to confide in me, trust me with whatever they had going on in their life. It was all about trust… and again, i dont know where i would be in life without this amazing organization.
While it is unlikely this was a surprise to the team, it does leave another important staffing position open as the Steelers head into the offseason.
