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Gulf Coaching Search On Hold

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By BART O'CONNELL

Tribune correspondent

Published: August 8, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - The search for the next Gulf boys basketball coach will last at least one more week.

Citing a low number of applicants, a need to work on filling an open teaching position and Athletic Director Paul Girardi being on vacation, Gulf principal Steve Knobl has decided to prolong the search and try to draw more applicants. After originally hoping to hire a coach this week, his goal now is to fill the position by Aug. 15.

Knobl would like to have at least three finalists, then form a five-person committee to conduct interviews next week before making a decision. The committee would include Girardi, other school officials and representatives for the students and parents.

Knobl plans to fill the social studies teaching position before resuming the coaching search, and only a reading position will remain. That creates a strong likelihood that the next coach, if hired from outside the school, will not be on the faculty. That could mean the hiring is a temporary solution.

"There are many ways we can solve this, get the best fit," Knobl said. "It may be that we hire someone for the long term who sticks with us for many years, or we may hire someone currently at the school and have them take the job for one year until we have more teaching spots available.

"When the teachers return to school Monday, and start to see who is still here and who isn't, there's likely to be some interest in the job on the staff. But I haven't had any takers yet."

Girls basketball assistant Paul Schulman, a Gulf graduate who has been with the team for four years but is not a faculty member, is the only person to formally apply. Knobl said his initial meeting with Schulman went well.

"He's been great for this school and for that team," Knobl said. "We may very well go with him, but I would like see what interest we get off the FHSAA Web site and at least go over more resumes with Paul Girardi before making a decision."

Schulman also is on vacation, and he is expected to return next week when the hiring process gets under way.

As for current girls basketball coach Mike Quarto, who has guided the Bucs to multiple conference titles and state playoff appearances, Knobl met with him two weeks ago to gauge his interest in the opening.

Quarto told Knobl he wanted to remain with the girls team but he would have been interested had it been available a few years ago.

Knobl said he has been approached by another coach from Gulf, whom he did not identify, and the coach offered to take the job for one year if the need arises.

Previous coach Steve Feldman, who led the Bucs for 13 years, left for a similar job at Crystal River High last month.

While Knobl would like to have a coach in place before students return to class Aug. 18, he said there is less urgency because it is a winter sport. He expects to meet with Girardi when he returns from vacation early next week to make further plans.

Correspondent Bart O'Connell can be reached at boconnell@

pop.tampatrib.com.

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