Land O’ Lakes High Athletic Department had a dedication ceremony on Dec. 17 to name its gym in honor of one of longest-tenured and most-decorated coaches in Pasco County sports history.
The Gators’ gym is now the David Puhalski Gymnasium, an honor bestowed upon the basketball coach who guided the Gators for 31 years.
After taking over the Gators program in 1988, he compiled a 479-349 career mark before retiring in May 2021.
Land O’ Lakes High Principal Ric Mellin brought the idea to the Pasco County School Board in June, which unanimously approved the request.
“For just over 30 years, Coach Puhalski served as the head coach of the boys’ basketball team, winning nearly 500 games, earning six conference and six district championships, and taking 15 teams to the playoffs,” Mellin said in June. “Very few, if any, coaches ever reached that level of success.”
