Legendary Gaither High School varsity baseball coach Frank Permuy died on April 19, following a yearlong battle with brain cancer, multiple media outlets reported. He was 77.
Permuy coached Gaither for 30 seasons — from when the school first opened in 1984 up until 2014.
He registered a 513-276 (.650) record in that span, guiding the Cowboys to 16 playoff berths, 13 district titles, eight Western Conference titles, two regional championships and a state-runner up finish. Notable former players Permuy coached include current Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash and Cleveland Indians outfielder Oscar Mercado.
In 2015, the local school named its baseball field in his honor, calling it ‘Frank Permuy Park.’
Before his time at Gaither, Permuy also coached baseball at Leto and Tampa Catholic high schools, along with the University of Tampa — totaling more than 700 career victories across the prep and college levels.
Permuy grew up in Ybor City and attended Plant High School, playing baseball there for three seasons. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tampa and a master’s from Mississippi State University, upon entering the coaching ranks.
Permuy over the years earned inductions into several Halls of Fame — American Baseball Coaches Association (2018), Sports Club of Tampa (2016), National High School Baseball Coaches Association (2013), Florida High School Athletic Association (2010) and Florida Athletic Coaches Association (2010).
