Tornadoes start search for new soccer coach

By RODNEY PAGE

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 21, 2000

Clearwater is looking for a new boys soccer coach after Steve Lindsay was let go by the school last week. Lindsay, who was a math teacher at Clearwater, resigned six weeks prior to the end of the academic year in order to work for an Internet company. However, when Lindsay left, he said he was told by Clearwater principal Nick Grasso he could still coach. But on June 12, Lindsay said he received a call from Grasso saying he would not return. "I was basically fired (as soccer coach)," Lindsay said. "I wanted to be there, and I still want to be there. I was told when I left that I would remain as the coach, but I guess they had a change of heart."

Grasso said it is not mandatory that a coach also teach at the school. However, he said he prefers all of Clearwater's coaches to also teach at the school.

Grasso said he didn't expect Lindsay to resign.

"It left us ... surprised," he said. "Usually, teachers wait until the end of the school year to leave, but Steve must have felt it was urgent enough to leave six weeks before the end of the school year. But he did a great job of turning the soccer program around, and we'll miss him."

Lindsay, a former player at Clearwater Central Catholic, went 23-17-5 in two years as Tornadoes coach. He led Clearwater to the regional tournament in both seasons and advanced to the regional semifinals last season.

Lindsay was the Times coach of the year for the 1999-2000 season. He continues to coach for the Clearwater Chargers club program. Lindsay did not rule out coaching preps in the future.

"Maybe I haven't grown up, but I love being around the kids," Lindsay said. "If Clearwater came back and said they wanted me to coach again, I'd do it for the kids. Maybe I'll end up coaching somewhere else. I'll just have to wait and see."

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.

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