BRANDON - Midway through this past boys basketball season, Brandon head coach Mark Hermann hinted it would be his last.
Wednesday, the 20-year coaching veteran made it official when he gathered his team into a classroom and told them he would not be coming back next season.
Weeks after guiding the program to the Class 5A state semifinals and after 283 wins and 87 losses, two state final four appearances and seven district titles, Hermann is calling it quits.
"I've been involved in basketball for 30 years, from high school to college and now coaching," Hermann said. "It's just so much time away from your family. There are coaches who've been going 30 years without making the final four and I've been there twice."
Sitting in an office decorated with newspaper articles, trophies and T-shirts from past seasons, Hermann said he won't miss coaching as much as he'll miss the people involved with the program. He also said he wants to be remembered as a coach who made the game "an enjoyable experience."
During his reign as coach, 29 players have gone on to play college basketball.
Brandon athletic director Johnny Bush said he hopes to find a replacement by May 1.
"Obviously he's a huge loss," Bush said. "You can't put into words what Hermann meant to the program."
Hermann said he will continue to coach the boys varsity golf team.
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