Beck to try hand at coaching girls golf

Ernie Beck, who guided River Ridge's softball team to the state title game in May, will also coach the Knights' girls golf team.

"I'm excited -- I've always been interested in golf, and I like to play," said Beck, who stepped down as head football coach at River Ridge Middle School to accept the position.

Beck succeeds Jan Obara, who missed the end of last season with an undisclosed medical condition. Beck had offered to supervise the squad in Obara's absence last year, but boys coach Ron Spriggs took over as the Knights finished second in the Sunshine Athletic Conference.

It's Beck's first experience coaching golf, but he'll have a talented lineup to work with. Junior left-hander Heather Hagerman finished second in the conference tournament last year. She's joined by seniors Tara Pickens and Stefanie Simon, a standout on Beck's softball team.

Until golf was shifted to the fall three years ago, Beck was never able to coach the sport because of softball. In eight years as River Ridge's softball coach, Beck has a 164-62 record, including a 31-3 mark last season.

He has also coached basketball and soccer and said it was difficult to give up the football position, though he'll continue to officiate high school games in Hillsborough County this fall.

"I love football, and I played football in college," Beck said. "Officiating keeps me active in the sport. The middle school job is an excellent position, in that you don't have nearly the pressure of a varsity job, but you get to experience every aspect of being a head coach."

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