Longtime Pasco High Pirates head football coach Tom McHugh is continuing his coaching career in east Pasco County, albeit at another public high school.
McHugh was recently named an assistant coach at Wesley Chapel High, where he’ll coach linebackers and quarterbacks under Wildcats fourth-year head coach Tony Egan.
McHugh was relieved of his coaching duties at Pasco following a 2-8 mark in the 2018 season.
He compiled an 86-50 mark in 12 seasons at Pasco, winning six district titles (2007-12) and two regional titles (2008, 2011).
McHugh is the county’s fifth winningest coach in public schools, behind John Benedetto (195 wins at Land O’ Lakes), Tom Fisher (124 wins at Zephyrhills), John Castelamare (103 wins at River Ridge, Mitchell) and Scott Schmitz (94 wins at River Ridge, Mitchell).
The Pirates, however, struggled in recent years under McHugh, with four straight losing seasons for a combined 10-30 mark.
Moreover, the program suffered four straight defeats to crosstown foe Zephyrhills High School in the annual 9-Mile War rivalry game, losing those games by an average margin of nearly 40 points.
Wesley Chapel is coming off a 5-5 mark last season. They went 6-4 and 7-2 in 2017 and 2016, respectively.
