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Lure of the pool too hard to resist for ex-Pirates coach

By STEVE LEE
Published August 31, 2006

DADE CITY - Longtime Pasco swim coach Russ Rosenbauer retired after last season, but couldn't stay away. Last week he became a swimming official.

"My wife Sharon said I'd die if I couldn't do the swimming," Rosenbauer said. "It's like an addiction for me."

Rosenbauer, who helped found Pasco's program in 1998, has multiple sclerosis and has been wheelchair-bound since 1993. He said the Florida High School Athletic Association's 2004 postseason expansion of a region meet in between district and state competitions influenced his decision.

"It was too much for my MS," he said, adding that day-long postseason meets "just tire me out and it's a lot of stress to go to those meets as a coach."

Rosenbauer, 54, paid $34 for the FHSAA's online course and was certified last week. He plans to be one of three officials at Pasco meets this season, joining Jim Medley and Jim Gentry, whose sons and daughters swam for the Pirates.

In high school swimming, coaches for the home team are responsible for enlisting unpaid volunteer officials. At most schools, that turns out to be parents or coaches themselves.

Land O'Lakes coach Robin Hilgenberg, whose husband Scott plans to become a certified official this season, said she and an opposing coach are the officials at most meets. Hilgenberg welcomed Rosenbauer back to the sport.

"I miss Russ," she said.

"With his knowledge and everything I think he needs to stay involved. Russ is always a very fair person. I see him as being a strict official."

Rosenbauer's 23-year-old daughter Amsler Burns, a 2000 Pasco graduate, plans to have her father at most home meets. Rosenbauer dismissed questions about a conflict of interest.

"I don't consider it a conflict, because I know I'm scrupulously honest," he said, adding that when he disqualified a Pasco swimmer last week for an illegal flip-turn "it was a funny feeling."

Contact Steve Lee at lee@sptimes.com.

[Last modified August 31, 2006, 06:09:21]