Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
© St. Petersburg Times, published April 13, 2002
TAMPA -- Freedom High moved one step closer to the playing field Friday afternoon when principal Richard Bartels announced the majority of the first-year school's coaches.
In choosing his staff, Bartels picked from high schools all over the county, nabbing veteran coaches to mix with a couple first-timers and allowing some to take over new sports during the school's inaugural season.
Bartels, who left his position as principal at King to assume the post at Freedom, brought some Lions with him.
King girls soccer coach Dave Outlaw will coach the girls at Freedom, Lions wrestling coach Dwight Middleton will move to the new school and former King cheerleader, softball player and soccer star Taryn Gamble will coach the softball team.
"I think we have an excellent coaching staff," Bartels said. "We have a mixture of veterans and some coaches who will get their first varsity assignment."
Former Bloomingdale coach Phil Zimmerman will take control of the boys basketball team while Erin Campbell leaves Sickles, where she has served as an assistant, to be the girls coach. Campbell's departure means the Gryphons are now down two girls coaches as head coach Jackie Metroka moved to first-year Middleton earlier this week.
East Bay girls golf coach Art Roberts will head up the Freedom baseball team and Plant boys soccer coach Dennis Derflinger will assume the same role at the new school. Tye Severino, the wife of King football coach Joe Severino, will be Freedom's swimming coach.
Bartels said he would announce the football and boys track coaches Monday and would decide on cross country, golf and tennis coaches later this summer.
William Renninger will coach girls track and Tamara Wilson will head up the volleyball team. Tiffany Ewell will be the cheerleading coach.