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Seven seasons enough
By JAMAL THALJI, Times Staff Writer
DADE CITY -- He will always be a Pirate, but Ricky Thomas will no longer be the head football coach at Pasco High School. Thomas resigned last week after seven seasons guiding his alma mater. He said he left because the timing was right. "It's just like any other job, you know when it's time to move on," Thomas said. "It's time to close the books on that chapter of my life. It was just time to go." Thomas leaves forever linked to Pasco football. One of the first black students to attend the school, Thomas starred as a running back in 1973 when he rushed for 1,300 yards and 18 touchdowns. After 17 years coaching middle school football, Thomas finally got his shot at the job he had long coveted in 1996. Coach Perry Brown, who led Pasco to the county's only state title in 1992, resigned suddenly that July, citing personal reasons. Thomas, already a Weightman Middle School coaching legend, got the nod Aug. 1, 1996. He became the first black head football coach in Pasco County history. Seven seasons later, Thomas leaves with a 45-29 career record, three playoff appearances, a 1-3 postseason record and the 1998 Sunshine Athletic Conference and Class 4A, District 8 titles. He shares the record for most seasons as Pasco coach with Brown and Don Herndon. Thomas has not ruled out an eventual return to coaching, either as a head coach or as an assistant. But he said he has contemplated resigning for the last three years for several reasons. The birth of his son Ricky was one. The Pirates also endured their leanest years under Thomas in Hillsborough County-dominated districts from 1999 to 2000, going 8-12. But Thomas stayed on in part to fulfill one last goal. "I wanted to see my senior class, (quarterback) Ben Alford and company, through," Thomas said. "I didn't want to leave until I was satisfied, and up until this year I had unfinished business, and as far as I'm concerned my business is finished now." After guiding the Pirates back to the playoffs in 2002 after a four-year hiatus, Thomas said he decided it was time. One of the most important reasons he resigned, he said, is to spend more time with his family: wife Christina, 33, and their son Ricky, who turned 3 in November. "I've been thinking about it for a long time, even after the '98 season," Thomas said. "After my son was born, and after about the eighth or ninth game this year, I knew it was time to step aside. "It was very difficult, because I worked my whole career to get this job. It was very, very tough to walk away from a job it took your whole career to get. To walk away from my players and my coaches, was tough, too. I feel like it's what's best for me and for my family. That's what makes it easy, to be honest with you." Thomas met Christina at Weightman and the two teachers were married during the 1998 season. But when their son was born three years ago, she said the decision to resign loomed closer. "Ever since the baby was born, it's been hard for him," said Christina, a sixth-grade geometry teacher at Weightman. "He really likes spending time with his son, and there's nobody (his son) would rather spend time with. "It's been tough on both of them. But Pasco High was an important job for him, and it holds a lot of great memories for us as a family and I'm glad he had the opportunity to coach there." Principal Pat Reedy said Thomas will be missed. "I think he's worked hard, he's certainly put his heart and soul into it," Reedy said. Thomas' tenure coincided with radical change in county prep sports. The era of school choice gave athletes the choice to play for other schools, and several top prospects left Pasco and the county altogether. Others headed to Wesley Chapel, which opened in 1999 and drew away many top players who would have attended Pasco. SEASON-BY-SEASONRicky Thomas went 45-29 in his seven seasons at the helm, tying him with Perry Brown and Don Herndon as the longest-tenured coaches in school history. Thomas made the playoffs three times, won one district title and one Sunshine Athletic Conference crown. Here's a microcosm of each of his seasons in Dade City: 1996: 8-3. First season saw playoffs and last-second win over Zephyrhills. 1997: 6-4. Strong 6-1 start but rivals Zephyrhills and Hernando killed postseason hopes. 1998: 11-1. His best: 10-0 regular season, conference and district titles, playoff victory. 1999: 4-6. Let the bad times roll; first year of Hillsborough-dominated districts. 2000: 4-6. See above. 2001: 6-4. Return to respectability marred by record losses to Wesley Chapel, South Sumter. 2002: 6-5. Thomas takes Pasco back to playoffs after four-year absence. BEST GAMEBEST SEASONBEST RIVALRBEST PLAYER
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