Land O’ Lakes coach Dave Puhalski notches 300th career win

Milestone comes in 21^st season

By Steve Lee

Sports Editor

LAND O’ LAKES — At long last, Land O’ Lakes boys basketball coach Dave Puhalski has 300 wins. It took him 21 seasons to reach that plateau.

The milestone came in front of a home crowd with the Gators defeating Inverness Citrus 60-38 in a Class 4A, District 8 matchup on Dec. 18. It improved Puhalski’s record to 300-254.

Puhalski, in his ever-present humorous outlook, equated 300 wins with turning 47 in October.

“Both mean I’m getting old,” he said with a hearty laugh.

Puhalski joins Calvin Baisley and Vicky King as the only Land O’ Lakes coaches with 300 victories. Baisley, that school’s baseball coach for 30 years, reached his milestone in 2005. King, the girls soccer coach since that sport’s inception in Pasco County in 1986, notched her 300^th win in 2006.

Before landing the Land O’ Lakes coaching job in 1989, Puhalski was an assistant at Ocala Vanguard for three seasons. That was followed by a one-year stint as an assistant at the University of Tampa.

Puhalski felt just as proud as being a Land O’ Lakes coach for 21 years, where he teaches physical education, as he did for winning 300 games.

“You don’t see much of that anymore,” he said of his longevity streak. “Guys get burned out pretty quick.”

A passion for the game, coupled with taking time to hit the links as an avid golfer and spending time with his family, are among the key factors in Puhalski’s decision to remain in coaching. He has been married to Erika for 20 years and the couple has a 13-year-old daughter, Kenzie, and 10-year-old son, David Jr.

“They really keep me on an even keel,” Puhalski said.

During a post-game celebration after the Citrus game, Puhalski was handed a basketball with No. 300 inscribed on it by Land O’ Lakes Athletic Booster Club President Steve Thomopoulos.

“I’ve got it on a shelf at home with Nos. 100 and 200,” Puhalski said.

The 100^th win came against Pasco (by a 51-44 score) and the 200^th was against Tarpon Springs (77-33).

There are no keepsake basketballs for the Gators’ three conference championships, two district titles and five district runner-up finishes. Land O’ Lakes made seven playoff appearances, but never got past the first round.

“We’ve run into some pretty tough teams,” Puhalski said.

Among those in the crowd for the Citrus game in support of Puhalski were prominent former players such as Kevin Burnell, Denzel Gordon and Mike Cardwell. Fellow coaches, and a former referee, also reached out to Puhalski to offer their congratulations.

Alan Reed, a high school referee for 18 seasons who has spent the past two years coaching the Zephyrhills boys basketball squad, said Puhalski always had his players prepared.

“He got the most out of his kids and he did a lot of offseason work with them,” Reed said, alluding to the players’ participation in summer leagues.

Reed also noted how Puhalski worked well with former football coach John Benedetto and Baisley when it came to multi-sport athletes and overlapping seasons.

“They are a very close-knit group, which can only benefit you when you’re sharing three-sport athletes,” Reed said.

Puhalski has shared plenty of time with some of his fellow coaches away from school as well. The Baisleys, Benedettos and Puhalskis have taken family vacations together. Some of those trips have included summers in Cocoa Beach and excursions to Las Vegas and Biloxi, Miss.

“I think that’s what builds camaraderie,” Puhalski said. “It’s really a great situation.”

Another thing that brought the trio together was Puhalski having Benedetto’s son, Geo, along with the Baisley boys — Brad, Jeff and Brian — on his rosters throughout their high school athletic careers.

“I’m real fortunate that I had all their sons play for me,” said Puhalski, estimating that those players figured in more than 100 wins.

Coach Dave Puhalski’s Road to 300

• Overall Record: 300-254.
• Seasons: 21, all at Land O’ Lakes.
• First win: Brooksville Central.
• 100^th win: Pasco, 51-44.
• 200^th win: Tarpon Springs, 77-33.
• 300^th win: Inverness Citrus, 60-38.

Postseason: three conference championships, two district titles, five-time district runner-up, seven playoff appearances. Never got past the first round in postseason play.

Three’s Company: Puhalski joins Calvin Baisley (baseball) and Vicky King (girls soccer) as Land O’ Lakes coaches with at least 300 victories.