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Kitchie gets a 'phenomenal' opportunity

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By EDDIE DANIELS

edaniels@tampatrib.com

Published: June 24, 2009

LAND O' LAKES - Monday afternoon, Land O' Lakes principal Ric Mellin drew on two historic footnotes to describe what was announced that day.

Former Bradenton Saint Stephen's Episcopal School coach Matt Kitchie became the third head football coach in the Gators' 34-year history. He replaces John Benedetto, whose tenure ended after 32 seasons.

"I've commented to people in regards to this, using the analogy of the Miami Dolphins hiring for Don Shula or Pittsburgh Steelers hiring for Chuck Noll," Mellin said. "It's difficult no matter what you do because you have someone who was in the position, in our case since the school opened, for over 30 years. Other schools have experienced a lot of turnover. We've experienced absolutely none."

Benedetto's three decades on the Gators' sideline resulted in a 196-149 record; 13 district titles, including the last three seasons; 17 playoff appearances, including the last 12; six Sunshine Athletic Conference titles; and two appearances in the regional finals.

"To me, it's exciting," Kitchie, 31, said of following Benedetto's legacy. "First of all, I'm filling some very large shoes. The opportunity is just a phenomenal one. The fact that they care about football and they want to win makes it to where I want to help the team be successful. It's not easy to win football games in the state of Florida and you have to work very hard at it. Hopefully I'll do my very best and make the community of Land O' Lakes very happy."

If Kitchie comes anywhere near the success of Bill Cowher, who replaced Noll after 23 seasons in Pittsburgh, not only will Land O' Lakes be happy, but he'll also have molded his own pair of shoes.

He received news of the new job while on the road, returning from a Texas vacation with wife Laurie and their two children.

"That was a long drive because I was ready to get going," he said with a laugh.

Kitchie opened Saint Stephen's Episcopal in 2006, starting up the high school and middle school football programs. In three seasons, his Falcons compiled an 11-14 record, including 5-5 the past two seasons.

Ironically, this is a career Kitchie eased into.

After high school, where he played quarterback for the Bradenton Southeast championship teams of 1993 (Class 4A) and 1994 (5A), Kitchie played for South Carolina's Newberry College (1996-2000).

"We feel pretty good about where we're at right now," Mellin said. "I've kind of been describing Matt as the complete package in terms of what I was looking for. He's a younger guy, but he's still pretty established in terms of having a variety of experiences."

Following college, Kitchie wanted to extend his playing career, but while waiting he eased into what would become his new career.

"I became a coach in an untraditional way," said Kitchie, who will receive his master's degree in sports administration in August. "I got out of college and didn't have a job, so I called my high school coach and he said, 'We're going to start spring football and we need a receivers coach.' I went and did that and then that progressed into me becoming a teacher. Then I got to the point at Southeast High School where I wanted to try something bigger and I went on to become a graduate assistant at Eastern Kentucky University from 2005-06 and then I became a head coach.

"I have to tell you, everyday I wake up, I never take for granted the position that I have."

Kitchie tried his hand at professional football, landing on the arena league's Tampa Bay Storm practice squad in 2002 and later that year playing in three games with the af2's Carolina Rhinos.

The change of guard comes following a turbulent set of circumstances in which Benedetto felt he couldn't coach.

Had things gone as planned, a coaching search would have been delayed by a year. Benedetto planned to coach the 2009 season and then retire, but his hand was essentially forced. Although former principal Monica Ilse approved his final extension in the Deferred Retirement Option Program, also known as DROP, in March, Benedetto received a letter from the District School Board of Pasco County denying that eighth and final year.

Benedetto said he was told he could coach, while off campus, and be paid only the supplement.

Now begs the question: Will the remaining coaching staff stay?

The group has been together for years. Benedetto took over the program in 1977 after being a Gators assistant when the school opened in 1975. Defensive coordinator Al Claggett has been an assistant since '75. Bill Gebauer started at Land O' Lakes in '77. Former Land O' Lakes linebacker Tom Carter has been an assistant there since 1988. Rock Ridgeway came on board in 1992. And Bryan Babij, the youngest, has been on the staff since 2003.

Mellin said Kitchie met with the assistants Monday and all went well.

"I have to thank the community and I have to thank the assistant coaches because they're ready to move forward and they're going to embrace our new coach," Mellin said. "They may not have agreed with my decision, but they're here for the kids and that came out loud and clear."

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 259-7066.

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