Sound bites no match for sound character

This is a story about Dominick Ciao, which is ironic because there may be no one in Tampa who avoids the spotlight more than Ciao.

By SCOTT PURKS
Published March 28, 2007

TAMPA - This is a story about Dominick Ciao, which is ironic because there may be no one in Tampa who avoids the spotlight more than Ciao.

It's safe to say that Ciao, in fact, hates spotlights.

A quick story:

Before the 2000 football season, after his Jesuit teams had completed the 1990s with the county's best overall winning percentage, I told Ciao it was time to do a story on him.

Ciao answered, as he answers most reporters' questions, with a pause and an "Uh," and in this case, an "Oh, no, no. Don't do a story on me. Do a story on one of my kids."

The story, thanks to Ciao, was never done.

In 2003, after 17 years of leading Jesuit, Ciao stepped down to "spend more time with my family." Despite everything he accomplished, and despite the hundreds of lives he had touched, the story about him stepping aside was relatively short.

"I don't want to talk about myself," Ciao said. "You know?"

On Tuesday, after it was announced Ciao was coming back to coach Berkeley Prep's football team, I congratulated him and said I looked forward to working with him again.

"Thank you, thank you, I'm excited," Ciao said. Then ... long pause ... long pause ... "Uh, I'm, you know, ready to get back on the field."

A thought ran through my head: Dominick Ciao may be the worst quote in Tampa.

Which in some odd way - because there isn't a reporter who doesn't like a good quote - makes him one of my all-time favorites.

You see, the reason Ciao is a bad quote is because getting quoted is at the bottom of his list of priorities.

At the top - and this truly is no baloney - is integrity, compassion and a love of teaching the game in all facets, which he sees as vast.

The proof is the dozens of former players who call him each month to see how he's doing, or the hundreds of former players, coaches and parents who turned out in 2003 to honor him at a banquet when he left Jesuit.

The proof will be in Berkeley's impending success, which will, through developing his boys' character, translate into wins.

Plant coach Bob Weiner, who worked as an assistant to Ciao for 15 years, put it this way: "I say this without hesitation: I have never met a man with more character than Dom Ciao.

"I take my lead from him in every way, from coaching the game to teaching kids how to handle themselves in life. In my book, he's the best high school football coach around."

High praise from a man who just led Plant to a 15-0 season and Class 4A state title.

What do you think of that, Dominick?

"Uh ... c'mon ... I'm not gonna ... "

Hey Dominick, we know, we know, you don't want to talk about yourself.

So, without further ado, this column on Ciao comes up a little shorter than the normal length of most columns.

Fitting, don't ya think?

[Last modified March 28, 2007, 00:42:32]