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Knobla coach no more
By JAMAL THALJI, Times Staff Writer TRINITY -- With a new baby, 5-month old Drew, at home and his mother Laura taking the year off from kindergarten teaching to watch him, the Knobl family had an important decision to make. If Steve Knobl, Mitchell's girls golf and basketball coach, could land an assistant principal's job, he would leave coaching behind for a career in administration. Wednesday, that day arrived. Knobl, 30, accepted a position as assistant principal for curriculum and instruction at Land O'Lakes High. His appointment must be approved by the Pasco County school board at its Aug. 20 meeting. Today is his last official day at Mitchell. That means Mitchell must find a new girls golf coach with the start of the season 12 days away. The Mustangs also need a new girls basketball coach before practice starts Nov. 4. "I got into the assistant principal pool and my wife and I had a son in March," Knobl said. "So we made a decision with her staying home that I would seriously throw my hat into the ring." Knobl had a second interview with Land O'Lakes principal Max Ramos on Wednesday, got the job, then headed out to Mitchell golf tryouts, where 14 girls showed up to join the defending two-time Sunshine Athletic Conference champions. The Mustangs' girls basketball team enjoyed its first winning season and first playoff appearance last season under Knobl's guidance, all the more reason for him to miss coaching. "That's the hardest part," he said. "We've experienced a lot of success in both golf and basketball. The participation is growing and the numbers are just getting better and better. Knobl, a driver's education teacher at Mitchell, received his master's degree in educational leadership from Saint Leo University in 2002 and is studying at the University of South Florida for his doctorate in curriculum instruction. Knobl said Mitchell principal Tina Tiede and assistant principal Jim Michaels helped prepare him for the transition from teaching to administrating. "I've worked for Tina Tiede for years and she's been a great principal to work for, and Jim Michaels as been very helpful as far as training me through a lot of the administrative tasks that became a very important part of my interview," Knobl said. "I've had a lot of people take me under their wing. "But I'll take the job. I'm ready to go. I'm sad in some respects and very excited in others. I know Land O'Lakes is a quality school." Knobl leaves behind two of the best programs in the three-year history of Mitchell athletics. The Mustangs' girls golf team has gone 16-0 in the county the past two seasons, winning two SAC titles and earning Knobl coach of the year honors. The Mustangs were also the district and regional runners-up last season, earning their first trip to state. In Knobl's second season as girls basketball coach, the Mustangs improved from 9-18 to a school-record 20-9, finishing the season as district runners-up before falling 72-27 to Leesburg in the school's first playoff game. Knobl's goal is to become a principal and then perhaps join the district office. He hopes that day is not far off. "My five-year goal is to be a high school principal, and who knows what will happen from there," Knobl said. "I would like to be involved in a leadership position at the district level later on in my career. As far as coaching, those days are done. That's the hard part. "I really enjoyed that, and I'm always going to be a part of that."
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From today's Pasco Times Letters |
