Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
© St. Petersburg Times, published July 13, 2002
Former Countryside coach Scott Kitchen has been named Student Sports National Coach of the Year.
The magazine, which named the Class 5A champion Cougars No.1 in its season-ending Internet poll (studentsports.com), selected Kitchen after he led Countryside to a 33-1 record and a state title, then retired.
"It's something you don't expect," Kitchen said. "It's something you have to share with your assistant coaches. Larry Dowd and Todd Spence had a big part in it, too."
Kitchen, 49, compiled a 426-168 record in 23 years at Countryside. The school has not hired his successor.
Seven Florida players were named to the Student Sports All-America team, including Cougars second baseman Kattrina Dowd. The South Florida signee batted .598 with 70 hits.
Countryside is featured in this month's issue of the magazine.