CCC coach's plate is just too full

By JOE SMITH
Published April 11, 2007

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Al Braithwaite, who coached basketball 28 years in Pinellas County, has stepped down as Clearwater Central Catholic coach.

Braithwaite, who has been at CCC since 1991, led the Marauders to a 13-13 record last season and a district semifinal loss to eventual champ Berkeley Prep.

"Between my job and coaching, the stress just piled up," Braithwaite said. "I got to thinking I better think about doing something else. ...I'm going to miss it, but it was time."

Braithwaite, 49, also is the finance administrator for the city of Oldsmar. The former Eckerd College forward and self-proclaimed "basketball junkie" got his coaching start at the old St. Petersburg Thom Howard Academy 1979-85 before going to St. Petersburg High, then landing at CCC.

Braithwaite will be replaced by Jeff Segert, the father of sophomore guard Eric Segert. Segert, 50, moved his family from the suburbs of Illinois to Florida the summer of 2005.

This will be Segert's first high school head coaching job, though he has coached several hundred games at the AAU level in the Chicago area. A former player, Segert played for two state titles while at Bloom High School in the Chicago suburbs, then moved on to Monmouth College.

CCC assistant Bart Citro also will remain on the staff.

"Jeff has experience," Braithwaite said. "He's a good basketball guy."

DORSEY SIGNS: Lakewood senior guard Anthony Dorsey said he has signed with Odessa College (Texas), a program that has placed more than 100 players in Division I programs. A handful later moved onto the NBA.

Dorsey, a second-team all-state selection in Class 5A, averaged 18 points for the Spartans, leading them to the state championship game. The 6-foot-3 swingman made an oncampus visit to Odessa over the weekend and signed Monday.

Joe Smith can be reached at (727) 893-8129 or joesmith@sptimes.com