Bishop McLaughlin coach seeks Knights job

By FRANK PASTOR
Published December 2, 2005

NEW PORT RICHEY - Bishop McLaughlin coach Jim Ceccarelli is among more than 40 applicants for the vacant River Ridge football job.

Mike DeGennaro resigned in November after an 0-10 season, his sixth without a winning record.

The opening will be posted on the Pasco County Schools job board through today.

"It looks like we have a nice field of folks to look at," principal Jim Michaels said.

Athletic director Jack Homko said he and Michaels will begin interviewing candidates Monday, starting with those from Pasco County.

Land O'Lakes assistants Tom Carter and Tim Stevens, Zephyrhills assistant Jeremy Shobe and former Wesley Chapel assistant Chad Parker will be among the first to be interviewed, Homko said.

Ceccarelli, 39, started Bishop McLaughlin's program two seasons ago and guided the Hurricanes to a 2-7 record this year, their first at the varsity level.

A part-time employee, he approached school officials about joining the staff as a full-time coach and administrator but was told no positions are available. "I would like to be at Bishop McLaughlin more than anywhere," Ceccarelli said.

"But if they're not hiring full time, I would like the opportunity to continue coaching in a full-time capacity."

Carter, an offensive lineman and middle linebacker at Land O'Lakes from 1980-84, has been a Gators assistant since '88. Stevens went 73-10 in 12 seasons as Land O'Lakes' junior varsity coach.

Shobe, a former Pasco assistant, is the head JV football and boys weightlifting coach at Zephyrhills. Parker, head wrestling and assistant boys cross country coach at Newsome, previously coached football, weightlifting and wrestling at Wesley Chapel.

Among the other candidates are Central assistant Cliff Lohrey, Springstead and former Nature Coast Tech assistant Keith Tincknell and former Louisville Western coach Brian Wright, who had planned to join Jay Fulmer's staff at Gulf.

Applicants come from as far as Arizona, California, Indiana and Texas.

Irving (Texas) Nimitz assistant Corey Robinson listed University of Texas coach Mack Brown as a reference. Ralph Young worked with the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League. Bob Goebel coaches on a Navajo reservation in Arizona.

Danny Adams oversaw a state championship squad in Mississippi and a state runnerup in Alabama. Sam DeRossett is an assistant at Warren Central, which won Indiana's Class 5A state championship the past three seasons.

Michaels would like to make a decision before Christmas break but said the fact a teaching position currently is not tied to the job could slow the process.

[Last modified December 2, 2005, 13:01:12]