Citrus: Crystal River strikes out in coaching search

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Crystal River strikes out in coaching search

By BRIAN SUMERS
Published June 21, 2006

CRYSTAL RIVER - Tim Harradine, the former University of Alabama-Birmingham volunteer assistant who recently accepted the Pirates' offer to be baseball coach, has changed his mind, a school official said Tuesday.

Harradine told principal Patrick Simon he chose to take a position elsewhere, incoming activities director Tony Stukes said.

"I thought he was definitely coming," Stukes said. "Obviously something else came about."

Harradine, 28, recently left West Point High in Alabama, where he compiled a 35-33 record in two seasons. Crystal River administrators were excited because he was an English teacher with a master's degree in education and a strong coach. But it was not meant to be.

"We will start the process over again," Stukes said.

This is not the first time in recent memory Crystal River has lost a baseball coach after hiring him. In late 2004, English teacher Nate Lambdin returned to his native California before coaching a practice.