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Pioneer in women's sports retires after 35 short years

As an educator, coach and athletic director, Naida Stebbins helped young people grow as students and athletes.

GIBSONTON - When Naida Stebbins started her coaching career in August 1968, she didn't plan on becoming a pioneer. She simply wanted to help teenagers make the most of their educational and athletic opportunities.

Stebbins set out to help youngsters get a good education and develop athletic skills armed with truth and integrity.

Her goals never changed.

"Truth and integrity are two attributes I have always tried to instill into my students, athletes and coaches," she said.

After 35 years as an educator and administrator, Stebbins retired from East Bay High School at the end of the school year.

"I will really miss my kids. I think of all the athletes as my kids," Stebbins said. "In some ways time has gone by quickly."

Stebbins, whose career began at East Bay Junior High, has used her kids to mark the passage of time. Ruthie Richie was one of the first softball players she coached in the 13- to 15-year-old East Bay Leaguerette program in the early 1970s; now her daughter, Kayla DuPree, plays second base for East Bay.

She was on the front line as girls' sports began to expand in Hillsborough County. She was the first softball coach for Hillsborough High in the late 1970s. She also coached the softball team for Hillsborough Community College from 1980-1985.

One of her players, Michelle LaMonte, went on to become an All-American at the University of South Florida, then came back to coach at HCC.

Stebbins attended the University of South Florida while teaching and coaching, and earned her master's degree in educational administration in 1977. In the mid 1980s, she became assistant principal at Middleton Junior High. She stayed at Middleton until 1991, when she became athletic director at East Bay High.

In her capacity as athletic director, she hired Brian Thornton to coach the school's football team. It was a good hire; he turned the Indians' football program into a state powerhouse.

Stebbins could always be counted on to give 100 percent to the kids and the school, Thornton said. "The whole school has come a long way since she came here," he added.

In addition to a winning football program, Stebbins' legacy includes boosting the ranks of female coaches at East Bay. When she arrived at the school, there were two. This school year, there were nine.

Even as Stebbins looks toward retirement, she'll still keep watch over her East Bay kids.

"I know I will come back to see my student-athletes and watch them compete. However, I won't worry about getting officials, making sure the concessions are ready, the police officers are in place or that all the lights and scoreboards are working," she said.

"I will just sit in the stands and cheer for my kids."