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Pirates' Verlato resigns as coach of boys team

He will continue to work with the baseball program and teach at the high school, AD says.

By DAWN REISS
Published August 10, 2005

CRYSTAL RIVER - The Pirates are looking for a new boys coach.

Athletic director Earl Bramlett said Bobby Verlato resigned from his coaching position Monday.

"He just needed some time off," Bramlett said. "He's been coaching a lot."

Verlato, 29, guided Crystal River's team the past four seasons and worked as an assistant in baseball. He replaced longtime soccer coach Dave Soluri, who led the program for 15 years.

Bramlett said Verlato will continue to coach baseball and teach social studies at the high school.

Verlato, a 1994 Crystal River graduate, sparked the Pirates to a 14-4-2 record and district championship before they lost in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs during the 2001-02 school year.

The squad continued to win, making three consecutive postseason appearances and finishing 14-7-1 in 2002-03. The Pirates, though, have struggled the past two years. They had sub-.500 marks, including 8-13 last season.

An ex-Crystal River midfielder, Verlato played with current MLS star Jeff Cunningham in high school.

Verlato graduated from Florida State University, then spent three years in real estate acquisitions for the Florida Department of Envi-ronmental Protection before a teaching position lured him back to Citrus County in 2000-01.

He worked one season as an assistant coach under Soluri before taking over the soccer program. Verlato could not be reached for comment.

Dawn Reiss can be reached at 352 564-3628 or dreiss@sptimes.com

[Last modified August 10, 2005, 00:37:16]