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Tampa Catholic hires Russo as head baseball coach

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By ADAM ADKINS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 6, 2009

TAMPA - Pat Russo is getting another chance to coach high school baseball in Hillsborough County.

Russo, who was fired from his last coaching stint amid allegations of recruiting, has been hired as the new head coach at Tampa Catholic. Russo replaces Rich Arena, who resigned last month after three seasons.

"This is the happiest day of my life since the birth of my kids," Russo said. "I've always felt like I really never did anything wrong and I just wanted to have the opportunity to do what I do and that's coach kids. I'm just looking forward to getting started."

Russo has had previous head coaching stints at Plant and Hillsborough and enjoyed success at both stops. He's compiled 208 career victories in 12 seasons and is one of only two coaches to lead three teams to prestigious Saladino Tournament titles (Plant in 1998 and 2000, and Hillsborough in 2006).

Russo now inherits one of Hillsborough County's most successful baseball programs. Tampa Catholic has won a county-best nine state titles in its 47-year history.

"We are excited to have someone of his talent and dedication to student-athletics at the school," Tampa Catholic principal Thomas Reidy said in a press release.

While Russo enjoyed plenty of success on the field at his two previous coaching stops, both of those programs were clouded by allegations of recruiting. Those allegations even led to his termination as Hillsborough's head coach in 2006. Less than four months after leading Hillsborough to the Class 5A state title game, Russo was fired from his position amid allegations of recruiting five players.

Russo still vehemently denies recruiting any players, but said he's just looking forward to the future.

"The past is the past and whatever the reasons were [for my termination at Hillsborough], the reasons were. It is what it is," Russo said. "I'm just so happy to be in the place that I am today. I'm in a better place. I'm getting an opportunity to do what I do. I'm just trying to get Tampa Catholic baseball back to where it should be."

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