When Tampa Wharton begins boys basketball practice this fall, its original architect will be back in the fold.
After spending two years as the director of basketball operations at the University of South Florida, Tommy Tonelli has returned to the prep program he started from scratch in 1997.
Tonelli, who played at USF from 1982 to 1986, averaged 21 wins a season during his 10-year run at Wharton. He led the Wildcats to three district titles, three region semifinals and one region final appearance during his original tenure.
Tonelli replaces Dave Bastian, who coached the squad the past two seasons.
Football: Quick exit at Zephyrhills
After one practice at the helm of the Zephyrhills football program, head coach Jerrell Cogmon was fired.
The firing came after a Pasco County Schools investigation into illegal recruiting. Cogmon had replaced longtime Zephyrhills coach Tom Fisher. Assistants Greg Mathis and Troy Hochstetler will co-manage the team will the staff scrambles to find a permanent replacement.
Pasco Athletic Director Phil Bell and Zephyrhills principal Steve Van Gorden made the decision after the investigation into claims that a Zephyrhills assistant had communication with students at Wesley Chapel High School.
Cogman previously coached at Tampa Leto.
More Football: Rivalry won’t move
The annual football battle between Tampa Middleton and Tampa Blake will remain at Raymond James Stadium – at least for one more season.
The game, which pits the city’s historic originally African-American high schools against one another, usually averages close to 10,000 fans. Last season’s disappointing records (Middleton was 2-8 while Blake was 1-9) may have played a part in the 2008 game’s attendance of 4,500.
Still, the Hillsborough County Athletic Department recently announced the game will remain at the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for another season. Before being played at the stadium, Tampa Chamberlain’s home field was used for the contest.
More from the coaching carousel
Tampa Catholic has hired longtime Bay area coach Pat Russo as its new baseball coach. Russo, who previously coached at Tampa Plant and Tampa Hillsborough, has a little more than 100 career wins in 11 seasons at the two schools. His 2006 Hillsborough team reached the Class 5A state championship game.
Also, Plant City Durant boys basketball coach Jeff Shotwell has resigned. Shotwell led the Cougars to a 21-6 record last season. Trent Tice will take over for Shotwell, who led the program for the past five years. Previous to that, he coached the Durant girls, who he led to a region final berth in 2003.
In other coaching moves, former Tampa Prep basketball player J.C. Smith has returned to the school to take over the girls’ basketball program. Smith played for the Terrapins in 1997 and 1998.
Shayna Munson has been tapped to replace longtime Hudson volleyball coach Linda McQuade. Munson, a professional beach volleyball player, steps in for McQuade, who will remain the school’s athletic director. McQuade won more than 400 games in 20 years as volleyball coach and earned 10 district titles.
And Dade City Pasco is searching for a new boys basketball coach after Derek Heard resigned to take a coaching job in Orlando. Heard, a former player at Division II Florida Southern, was 3-21 during the 2008-2009 season.
Baseball signings and otherwise
As the summer comes to a close, so too does the window for prep baseball players drafted in the spring to sign with Major League teams.
And while prominent Bay area player Patrick Schuster did – another high profile local player Mychal Givens did not.
Schuster, the New Port Richey Mitchell left-handed pitcher, who gained national notoriety in spring after throwing four consecutive no-hitters, signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was drafted in the 13th round.
Meanwhile, Tampa Plant shortstop-pitcher Givens, did sign with the Baltimore Orioles. Givens, a second round selection by Baltimore, would have been en route to play at Oklahoma State.
Also, former Seffner Armwood pitcher Robert Benincasa did not sign with the Toronto Blue Jays and will play at Florida State. Benincasa, who helped the Hawks reach the state baseball finals, was the 1,000th overall pick in the draft.
