Crusaders coach on to Wiregrass

By IZZY GOULD
Published June 27, 2006

WESLEY CHAPEL - Greg Finkel, who has coached the Tampa Catholic girls basketball team the past five seasons, is moving on to Wiregrass Ranch, which opens in the fall.

Finkel, 34, guided the Crusaders to one district championship and a runnerup honor. The Land O'Lakes resident pursued the Wiregrass opening because of its proximity to his home and the opportunity to work and coach at the same facility.

Finkel will teach driver's education and personal fitness at Wiregrass.

"Putting those together was definitely something I was interested in," Finkel said. "Throughout my career, I was never working at the same facility. Being that this was so close, a brand new program, it just had the markings for being something special."

Finkel has coached at one level or another for 14 years.

He started at Sacred Heart in Tampa, which led to an opportunity to coach at Leto. He stayed at Leto five years as the junior varsity boys coach and assistant varsity coach.

Finkel then moved on to Tampa Catholic to be a varsity head coach.

"I was pretty successful over there," Finkel said. "We played just about .500 ball throughout the five years there. I am sadly leaving Tampa Catholic.

"It's very difficult to run a program not being on the campus."

[Last modified June 27, 2006, 06:38:44]