'Canes name former baseball player coach

By JOHN C. COTEY
Published January 26, 2005

Until he read a newspaper article about the search for a baseball coach at Palm Harbor University, Tony Ferriera didn't know there was an opening.

A week later, he was picked to fill it.

"I just saw the article, I was excited about it and I put in my resume to start the process," Ferriera said.

It was a short process. With the first baseball practice looming (it started Monday), PHU athletic director Bob Heintz moved fast to hire the former East Lake catcher and assistant coach to become the school's third baseball coach in the past eight months.

John Vigue resigned after one season to take a college job, and his replacement, Ed Garton, quit two weeks ago to pursue a business venture.

Despite the urgency, Heintz thinks he found the best man for the job.

"We like the fact that he's got a solid coaching background at East Lake. That program has been solid for a long time," Heintz said. "And he comes with a solid recommendation from Lee Byers."

Ferriera played four season at catcher for Byers, who has more career victories than any other active coach in the county, and served as an assistant coach at East Lake the past three seasons.

A teacher at Tarpon Springs, Ferriera was planning to assist Spongers coach Dan Genna this season until he picked up the Sunday paper.

"I see the possibility of having an exciting team," said Ferriera, who will continue teaching driver's education teacher at Tarpon Springs. "They are very young, but there's a lot of skills to work with."

Heintz was confident in his selection because it wasn't the first time Ferriera, 27, had intrigued him.

Before hiring Vigue in the summer of 2003, Heintz pursued Ferriera, hoping he would replace the retiring Greg Nichols. But a series of circumstances prevented Ferriera from officially becoming a candidate.

WILSON STEPPING BACK: Monica Wilson resigned as Tarpon Springs varsity volleyball coach, but will continue to coach junior varsity at the school. Wilson said she is getting married and has decided she can no longer devote herself to coaching year round.

"I still love coaching and have a passion for the game, but I'm getting married and moving on to another chapter of my life," she said. "I don't want coaching to be my main focus."

Wilson, 31, has been a coach since she was 18 and headed the Spongers program since 1996.

As a player, Wilson was one of the county's best, leading the Spongers to a state runnerup finish as a junior. As a senior, she led the Spongers to a second straight district title and was chosen as the 1991 Times Player of the Year.

Wilson guided the Spongers to the regional playoffs four times, and in 1998 her team came within a victory of the state semifinals.

She said she is taking the JV job so she can continue helping develop volleyball players.

"It was a very, very difficult decision," Wilson said. "I still have a passion for game. I enjoy the camaraderie. But it's time for somebody else. It's just time."

Houston visited Charleston Southern two weeks ago before making his decision. The 6-foot-5, 280-pounder was a standout in the county Senior All-Star game, and did not allow a sack all season while playing on the left side.

"He was one of our top linemen," Rodriguez said. "He had an excellent year."

John C. Cotey can be reached at 727-893-8129, or by e-mail at cotey@sptimes.com

[Last modified January 26, 2005, 00:35:02]