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© St. Petersburg Times, published December 18, 2001
TAMPA -- Athletic director Frank Oliver talked about a "new era" Monday afternoon.
Principal Lewis Brinson said it was a "new day at Blake High School."
Ricky Reynolds simply called it a chance to continue something he's been doing for more than 20 years -- be around football.
Reynolds was announced as Blake's new head coach. He's leaving his duties as defensive coordinator at Jefferson to become Blake's second coach since the school reopened in 1997.
Clarence Higdon resigned at the end of this season after his team compiled a 1-9 record. In his six years with the Yellow Jackets, they were 13-38 and made the playoffs in 2000 with a 5-5 record.
"I'm excited, this is a great opportunity," Reynolds said. "Four years ago, when I began coaching over at Jefferson, I never anticipated being a head coach."
Reynolds has been around football most of his life.
Growing up in Sacramento, Calif., he played as a running back and defensive back for his high school and recorded a 10.6 time in the 100-yard dash. Reynolds was a three-year starter at Washington State before being drafted in the second round (36th overall) by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1987.
Reynolds played with the Bucs until 1993. He is the only player to intercept San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana twice in the same game. Reynolds joined New England before the 1994 season and retired at the end of 1996 after the Patriots lost to Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXI.
Reynolds joined the Jefferson staff in 1998, coaching the defensive backs before moving to defensive coordinator and assistant head coach. He joins his wife, Pamela, who is a teacher and track coach at Blake.
"I want to try to bring back the spirit Blake had way back when," Reynolds said. "I know a lot of the history over here, but we're getting ready to start a brand-new tradition here."
Blake was the last Hillsborough County school to win a state title, earning the Class A championship in 1969 -- the same year Pinecrest captured the Class C crown. Both schools were shut down when integration took effect in 1970.
The first thing Reynolds plans to do is put together a coaching staff and implement an offseason weight program after the holiday break. As part of his introduction, he warned the 20 or so players who attended that they will "be hurting for a couple weeks" when school starts back up.
GAITHER'S NEW COACH: Gaither hired former University of South Florida player Jessi Kowal as head softball coach.
Kowal has played for the Clearwater Bombers since graduating last year. She replaces Jerlyn Shaw, who resigned in May while expecting a baby. Gaither was 18-11 last season, advancing to a region quarterfinal.