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Lecanto High School gets new head softball coach

By DAWN REISS
Published August 31, 2005

LECANTO - Robert Dupler has always wanted to be a head varsity coach at a high school. He never thought it would take 40 years to get there.

Dupler, 40, Lecanto Middle School's athletic director, was named Lecanto High School's head softball coach on Tuesday, said Lecanto High's athletic director, Dick Slack.

Dupler already has enough to do with his middle school responsibilities, which include stepping in as interim coach and serving as Lecanto High's head junior varsity girls basketball coach.

But that didn't stop him from applying for the softball position.

"It's a job I've always thought about pursuing," said Dupler, who graduated from Citrus High School in 1982. "I've put in to be the head coach of other sports, and I've never gotten it."

Now, Dupler will get his chance. He isn't sure how much longer he will stay as middle school athletic director, a post he's held since 2002. Dupler said he'll see how this year goes.

"If I need to, I will," Dupler said. "My main focus is the job I've taken on, which is softball."

Dupler replaces Amy Lilley, who resigned in May. Lilley led the Panthers to a 148-136 record in 11 seasons (1995-2005), including a state title in 1996, but went 8-14 this past season.

"The administration felt like there needed to be a change," said Lilley, adding that she wants more time to spend with her children: Jordon, 11, and Kelsey, 9. "I'm fine with it, now. I think it will better for everybody."

Lilley said Dupler will be fine in his new role.

"He's very enthusiastic about taking it over and taking them to next level," Lilley said.

Dupler, a former Millsaps College wide receiver/outside linebacker, had never coached softball before becoming an assistant under Lilley.

"I knew absolutely nothing," said Dupler, who was an assistant softball coach for eight seasons under Lilley until 2002. "Everything I learned, I learned from her. Amy taught patience, understanding. She is a true student of the game. It's hard to fill someone's shoes, and Amy's are pretty big shoes to fill."

Dupler previously worked as an assistant varsity football coach at Citrus High for a season in 1990. He came to Lecanto Middle for 1991-92 with a high school friend, former 'Canes head football coach Larry Bishop, to coach middle school football and work as the head eighth-grade boys basketball coach.

In his 13 years of coaching football in Citrus County, Dupler spent several years as the Panthers head junior varsity football coach, and also coached alongside Slack in Lecanto's only winning varsity football season in 2001.

"He's been a good solid assistant," Slack said. "I think he's earned the right to be a head coach."

Dawn Reiss can be reached at 860-7303 or dreiss@sptimes.com

[Last modified August 31, 2005, 01:40:35]