Coit, 58, says it's time to call it quits

After six seasons at Clearwater, the coach is retiring - for good.

By Bob Putnam, Times Staff Writer
Published March 13, 2008

For the fourth time in his career, Jack Coit is stepping away from boys basketball, ending his six-season stay as coach of the Clearwater Tornadoes.

"I'm retiring," Coit said.

Coit, 58, has walked away from coaching in the past when leaving jobs with other high schools and junior colleges, only to resurface on a different court.

This time he says it's for good.

Coit made the decision Monday when he filed his paperwork with Clearwater principal Keith Mastorides. Though he is retiring from basketball, Coit said he will remain as a teacher at the school through next year.

The announcement comes nearly a month after the Tornadoes' agonizing loss to Plant in the Class 5A region quarterfinals. Clearwater had a star-studded team with two Division I recruits and a frontcourt with an average height of 6-foot-8.

Initially, Coit planned on coaching one more season. But his Palm Harbor home sold two weeks after it was on the market. Soon after, he and his wife bought a house in the Villages, a fast-growing retirement community in Leesburg, where the Coits plan to spend most of their time this summer.

"I just thought I'd be short-changing the kids," he said. "I wasn't going to be able to put in the time that's needed in the summer. I didn't want to coach for the sake of coaching."

Coit's first head coaching job in Pinellas was with Clearwater Central Catholic, where he went 54-5 in two seasons. He left there to take the junior varsity assistant's job under Jack Wilson at Clearwater before moving on to St. Petersburg.

He coached the Green Devils from 1980-87 before leaving to coach St. Petersburg Junior College for four seasons.

Coit returned to St. Petersburg in 1991, but resigned in 1993 following an investigation conducted by then county athletic director Bob Hosack concerning alleged recruiting violations. Hosack's investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing by Coit.

After a seven-year absence, Coit returned to the bench in 2000.

In 11 seasons at St. Petersburg, Coit compiled a 224-88 record, including 18-9 in his final season.

He planned on finishing his career at St. Petersburg, but said he couldn't resist the opportunity to take over the storied Clearwater program.

Under Coit, the Tornadoes made the playoffs five of his six seasons and advanced to two straight final fours in 2004-05.

"I'm proud of making it to back-to-back final fours," Coit said. "It's a big feat just to get there."

Mastorides said he will post the position. He prefers to have someone on staff and would like to hire a coach by the end of the school year.

"Jack was a great coach for the program," Mastorides said. "I think he just felt it was time to retire."

Bob Putnam can be reached at putnam@sptimes.com or (727) 445-4169.

FAST FACTS

Jack Coit's career through the years

High school

School Seasons Record

CC Catholic 254-5

St. Petersburg 11 226-88

Clearwater 6151-25

College

SP Jr. College 494-28

Totals

23 525-146

[Last modified March 13, 2008, 01:54:53]