NCT doesn't go far for baseball coach

SPRING HILL -- Administrators at Nature Coast Technical High have conducted a national search to assemble the varsity coaching staff for the school scheduled to open in August, but the hire of a local for the baseball position apparently has lended immediate credibility to the program.

Danny Garofano, 32, who has served as an assistant at Central and Springstead, was among several new coaches announced Tuesday by athletic director Joy Greene.

"It's something I've wanted for a long time now," Garofano said. "I feel like I did pay my dues, and I'm happy (Greene and principal Tizzy Schoelles) are giving me the chance to fulfill a dream."

Garofano, a 1988 Springstead graduate, never has held a head coaching position in a high school program, but he is fully accredited in respect by those who will be his counterparts.

"I think Danny is a fine, fine choice," Springstead varsity coach Tracy Clark said.

Central coach Gary Buel complimented Garofano on his efforts when he was an assistant with the Bears.

"He's someone parents and people can be comfortable with," Hernando coach Tim Sims said.

"I'm very partial to people that have come through the system and moved back to the community. That's not there anymore. There's a good foundation to doing that."

Garofano was among four finalists for the NCT head football position that went to East Lake coach Tommy Keeler.

Garofano began his prep coaching career as a junior varsity football assistant at Springstead in 1994 under then-coach Bill Browning. Garofano played football and baseball at MacMurray College, an NCAA Division III school in Jacksonville, Ill., and was inducted into MacMurray's athletics hall of fame in October.

The chance to build a program from the infield rake up was attractive to Garofano.

"That's what I love about it," he said. "No one else has had their hand in it. There'll be no 'Coach So-and-so did it this way.' We may have some struggles early, but we will build this program into one of the best in the county."

Garofano said he plans to borrow many of Buel's coaching techniques for his NCT team.

Greene said three other varsity spots had been filled and another all but settled.

Jason Montgomery, the women's basketball coach at St. Catharine College in Springfield, Ky., will run the girls basketball and softball programs.

"I think the decision had a lot to do with his family," Greene said. "Being away from them five nights a week coaching (in college) is tough."

Paul Wilson, teaching in DeWitt, Ark., will coach track in some capacity and assist on Tommy Keeler's football staff.

Trevor Barlow, who teaches at Fox Chapel Middle, also will coach track.

Greene expected to name Springstead High girls weightlifting coach Chris Mock as the volleyball coach this week.

The latest round of hires leaves boys and girls soccer, golf, tennis and weightlifting as the only sports without coaches.

All head varsity coaching positions except football carry a $2,469 annual salary supplement. Football pays $3,321.

Greene admitted that the arrest last week of Central track coach Richard Ortiz on two counts of battery were disconcerting for someone conducting an en masse hiring process.

"Those kinds of things don't show up in a resume or in their backgrounds," she said.

"I was thinking, 'Great, is this going to happen to us?" But you can only do the best you can do."

-- Brant James can be reached at (800) 333-7505, ext. 1407. Send e-mail to brant@sptimes.com .

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