Gators hire Knights assistant

By STEVE LEE

© St. Petersburg Times,
published June 22, 2001

LAND O'LAKES -- The void created at Land O'Lakes when longtime volleyball and girls basketball coach Jerry Stacy switched to Zephyrhills didn't last long.

In the same month Stacy ended his 19-year stint at Land O'Lakes to be closer to a new home and his family, Land O'Lakes principal Max Ramos hired Brian Kachurak to coach volleyball.

The former River Ridge assistant will continue to teach physical education at Northwest Elementary School and has announced an open gym at Land O'Lakes for Tuesday. The 4:30 to 7 p.m. session is open to anyone interested in joining the team or those wanting to learn more about the game.

"I was really impressed with his professionalism, his enthusiasm for the game," said Ramos, who considered two other candidates outside the county. "As much as we hate to lose Jerry, I think (Kachurak is) going to be a good one for us."

"I think it's going to be a good challenge," Kachurak said, adding that he expects strong efforts from his players.

"One thing, when they leave that gym they know they gave it all they had. Leave it all on the court."

Kachurak, 26, guided the River Ridge junior varsity to a 30-2 record in two seasons. He also worked with River Ridge varsity coach Heidi Castelamare's club team, coaching North Bay's 16s to a third-place finish in the Florida Regional Championships at Sarasota in April.

A 1998 Penn State graduate who majored in physical education and health, Kachurak played volleyball three seasons for Penn State's club team. He continues to play club volleyball on a Suncoast men's team.

Kachurak said he came to Florida because of "the warm weather and the fact I can play volleyball year-round."

Ramos is still interviewing candidates for assistant volleyball coach as well as for varsity girls basketball. Kenny Blankenship is the girls junior varsity basketball coach.

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