Former Pasco coach seeks Hernando position

If Dale Caparaso gets his wish, he will experience the other side of the Pasco-Hernando rivalry.

By DAVID MURPHY
Published December 19, 2006

If Dale Caparaso gets his wish, he will experience the other side of the Pasco-Hernando rivalry.

The former Pasco coach, whose tenure ended this year after consecutive losing seasons, has applied for the Hernando vacancy and says the situation is "mighty similar" to the one he inherited when he arrived in Dade City in 2003.

Caparaso, who said he also has applied for the coaching job at Hillsborough County schools Freedom, Riverview and Tampa Bay Tech, won eight games in each of his first two seasons at Pasco before going a combined 5-15 in 2005 and 2006.

Once strong programs, Pasco and Hernando, whose annual games date to the 1920s, have fallen off in recent years. Nevertheless, Caparaso said Hernando, like Pasco, is in an area ripe with quality athletes.

"If I was to get the job, I think the similarity (between Pasco and Hernando) would help me," he said.

Caparaso, 50, arrived at Pasco in 2003 with a solid resume. The former James Madison linebacker coached 12 seasons at Bellingham (Mass.) High, where he won four state titles. At Pasco, he went 20-21 with two playoff berths in four seasons, both playoff season ending with first-round losses to Jefferson.

Hernando is still in the early stages of its search. Matt Smith, who lasted three seasons, was fired two weeks ago. A search committee was formed last week, and Hernando does not plan to start the interview process until January.

Times Staff Writer Izzy Gould contributed to this report.

[Last modified December 19, 2006, 00:37:01]