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Pirates Hire Boys Hoops Coach

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By EDDIE DANIELS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 16, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - Pasco High's search for a boys basketball coach ended Tuesday when James Derek Heard was hired to replace Poncho Broner, who stepped down after eight seasons and leading the Pirates to the program's eighth district title.

"We're really hoping that he can take the program to a new level and we're looking forward to it," Pasco athletic director Jim Ward said. "He comes in with - not taking anything away from Coach Broner - he comes in with a little different outlook on some things.

"He brings it like some college coaches do on the Division II level. He's real big on academics and discipline."

Heard, who recently was an assistant coach at Orlando Oak Ridge and was a longtime Miami Monsignor Pace assistant, takes over a team coming off a regional tournament appearance.

The former Florida Southern player (1999-2002) scored 1,064 points for the Moccasins and was the team MVP during the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons.

He was named Florida Southern's Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2001.

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