Bob Hudson's baptism into head coaching did not go exactly as planned.
The East Lake coach made his debut at home against rival Tarpon Springs, and lost. Another loss came the next week against Dunedin.
This wasn't the start Hudson envisioned. The Eagles, after all, were riding a three-year playoff streak, the second-longest among public schools in the county behind Seminole (four).
Players had their heads down. Hudson had to pick them up.
He managed to lift spirits by preaching patience, that good things would happen.
Hudson ought to know.
He watched last spring as the East Lake administration spent two months finding a replacement for coach Tom Keeler, who left to start the program at Nature Coast Technical High in Hernando County.
Hudson, 32, bided his time as then-athletic director Wayne McKnight cycled through candidates. Players lobbied on behalf of Hudson, an assistant for seven seasons, including an undefeated season as coach of the junior-varsity squad in 2001.
After scouring through applications from Florida and beyond, McKnight decided he wanted some stability with the program and tabbed Hudson as the coach.
"(Hudson) was a young guy who had put in his time and had a really good rapport with the players," said McKnight, now athletic director at Tarpon Springs. "He was the most deserving and had waited around long enough."
If patience is a virtue, consider the turnaround the Eagles are having as Hudson's reward.
East Lake rebounded to win two key district games to make the playoffs as a runner-up. Last week the Eagles beat host Northeast in the region quarterfinals. It was the first time East Lake won a postseason game since 1995.
On Friday the Eagles try to win their first region semifinal when they travel to Naples.
"It took a while to get on the same page with the players and coaches," Hudson said. "I had four new coaches on my staff and put in a short passing game. The kids came out on the wrong end of the scoreboard those first two games, but I preached to them that we just had to keep fighting."
Quarterback Lewis Caralla, one of the players who pushed for Hudson to get the job, blossomed under the new offensive system. He has rushed for more than 800 yards, and many believe he is the first quarterback to throw for more than 1,000 yards in a season.
"The biggest thing with coach Hudson is he's made everything fun," Caralla said. "We scrimmage in practice, we throw the ball more. But most of all we're winning and we're in the second round of the playoffs. That's the most fun of all."
