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Leopards in hunt for a coach

By DAVID MURPHY
Published December 12, 2006

ADVERTISEMENT [Times photo (2005): Keri Wiginton] Hernando hopes to have a replacement for coach Matt Smith by the end of January.

Any story concerning the replacement of a high school coach has to come attached with a dose of reality.

These guys aren't just coaches. They are mentors, academic advisors, salesmen, janitors, counselors, statisticians and marketers.

And they are paid about 25 cents per hour for their troubles.

So as the discussion turns toward who will replace Matt Smith as football coach at Hernando, it is important to do so with the following understanding: while wins and losses will always serve as the ultimate judge of failure and success, they shouldn't be the determining factor of a coach's legacy.

That said, Hernando moves on, and so do we. ...

Talking with Hernando athletic director Brent Gaustad Saturday afternoon, he wants the program to get to a point where it can compete for a state title.

There are several factors specific to the county that might mitigate that chance for success.

First, the area features four public high schools that all share the same talent pool. Second, one of those public schools is a magnet school that can attract talent from all over the county.

But none of that is to say a school like Hernando can't one day reach a point where it makes a push in the playoffs.

Last year, Hudson advanced to the region finals despite playing in Pasco County, which is saturated with high schools. This year, Central barely lost in the first round of the playoffs to a team that advanced to the Class 4A region finals.

And Hernando historically draws from the richest talent pool in the county.

According to Gaustad, one of the major responsibilities placed on the new coach will be the development of that talent.

"It is a little different now because we are the smallest school in the county, but I still think we have a good feeder system and we have good kids coming in," Gaustad said. "We have to get these kids back to remembering what being a Leopard was."

That might lead one to believe Hernando will hire a coach with rich Leopard bloodlines.

Former Hernando running back Dwayne Mobley, who played at the University of Florida, is a football coach at Parrott Middle, Hernando's primary feeder school.

Former coach Bill Browning, who led the Leopards to five winning seasons from 1996-2003, was an assistant coach under Smith this year. But Gaustad said the search is "wide open."

The athletic director said Saturday he hopes to have his search committee selected by today. The group likely will meet for the first time Thursday and will compile a job description to be posted on job boards.

Gaustad said he wants to have a new coach in place by the end of January. "It will be a heck of a couple of months," he said.

Fans will have to wait and watch as the program searches for its next mentor, academic advisor, salesman, janitor, counselor, statistician and marketer.

And coach.

David Murphy can be reached at dmurphy@sptimes.com or 352 848-1407.

[Last modified December 11, 2006, 23:06:19]