Hillsborough: News and notes

By Eduardo A. Encina and Keith Niebuhr, Times Staff Writers
Published February 28, 2008

King football coach resigns

After just one year in the position, King's Earl Garcia III has resigned as football coach. Garcia said the decision to leave was his.

"It was my own professional and personal decision," he said. "I didn't receive any pressure from the school. I just thought it was time for me to move on and try to pursue other options."

Garcia's only season leading King was a difficult one. The Lions were 2-8 last season, and Garcia was suspended by the school for five weeks for excessive conduct with a referee during a game in mid September.

"In my two years here, we've been able to send three kids to Division II schools or higher," Garcia said. "So when you talk about victories off the field, that's something I'm really proud of."

Garcia, son of longtime Hillsborough coach Earl Garcia II, served as defensive coordinator under Joe Severino before becoming head coach last year.

King athletic director Frank Oliver said Garcia submitted his resignation after school Tuesday.

"It was quite a surprise to us," Oliver said. "He told us it was for personal reasons."

Garcia's departure leaves King having to hurry to find a coach in time for spring practice in May. Oliver said he would like to have a coach in place within three to four weeks. The Lions' spring jamboree is May 23.

USC likes Armwood duo

Every major college football program on the East Coast has offered a scholarship to Armwood standouts Ryne Giddins and Petey Smith. And now it looks like an offer could be coming from a prominent West Coast school: Southern Cal.

The Trojans called Armwood coach Sean CallahanWednesday morning and asked him to send video of Giddins, a defensive end, and Smith, a linebacker, Callahan said. "They like them," Callahan said. "They just want more film."

As a junior, Giddins 6-foot-4, 230 pounds had a school-record 21 sacks and was the Times' all-Suncoast Defensive Player of the Year. Smith (6-0, 235) will be a four-year starter.

Spring stats

The Times will begin publishing baseball and softball statistics this week. Coaches are reminded to send updated stats via e-mail to kniebuhr@sptimes.com (softball) or eencina@sptimes.com (baseball) by 5 p.m. Wednesdays.

AHN coach steps down

Academy of the Holy Names girls basketball coach Casey Higgins has decided to step down to spend more time with her family. Higgins, a former point guard at Kansas who has two young children, told her team Wednesday. She will remain on the faculty as a physical education teacher. Higgins, 29, compiled a 110-30 mark in five seasons at AHN. She led the Jaguars to a 27-4 record and the Class 3A final four in 2006-07 and took them to the state tournament in 2004-05. Holy Names was 18-10 last season and lost in the Class 2A region quarterfinal. Potential candidates should call (813) 839-5371, ext. 320, or e-mail Pete Young at pyoung@holynamespa.org.

[Last modified February 27, 2008, 19:33:27]