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Emerson resignation is 'win-win situation'
By KEITH NIEBUHR © St. Petersburg Times, published May 23, 2001 LECANTO -- Citing the need to do something different with his life, Lecanto baseball coach Bill Emerson has resigned after five seasons. An 18-year school employee, Emerson will continue to teach health at Lecanto next year. He said he plans to take a year off from coaching and "see what happens." "I'm happy and pleased with the decision," Emerson said. "It's going to be good for me. I just think the team needed a change, too, so it's a win-win situation." Emerson's teams went a combined 27-88 during his final four seasons. Lecanto's record in 1997, Emerson's first season, was unavailable. From 1978-80, Emerson, who played baseball at Murray State, coached Citrus and claimed one Gulf Coast Athletic Conference championship. Lecanto struggled to a disappointing 0-8 start this spring and finished 7-22. The Panthers' season was ended by Central, 3-2 in 11 innings, in a semifinal of the Class 4A, District 6 Tournament in Brooksville. Lecanto's biggest win of 2001 came in its regular-season finale, when it defeated eventual 3A-6 champion Dunnellon. The Panthers went a combined 0-4 against Citrus and Crystal River. "Bill put his heart and soul into this thing the whole time he was here," said Lecanto athletic director Dick Slack. "We feel very fortunate to have had him, and we wish him luck. We were very satisfied with the job he did here." Slack said Lecanto hopes to hire a coach by May 30. "We've had several applications, and they're all being reviewed at this time," he said. "Before the end of the year, going into the summer, the kids need to know who their new coach is. "All the applicants are highly qualified. We're going to take a long, hard look at this and find the best fit for our program -- someone who's going to move this program ahead." The next coach will inherit a squad that returns most of its top players, including pitcher Jimmy Metz, a Times All-Citrus/Hernando first-team selection. Honorable-mention pick Dalton Meyers, a third baseman, also returns. The Panthers' only playoff appearance came in 1989.
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