By Steve Lee
Sports Editor
ZEPHYRHILLS — The two-headed football coaching experiment at Zephyrhills High has run its course after just one season, which leads to a job opening.
Tom Fisher stepped down in the offseason after a 20-year stint as coach of the Bulldogs. His replacement, Jerrell Cogmon, was dismissed in August after a controversy over student transfers and recruiting.
Since Cogmon left in the first week of fall practices, there was not ample time to put the job up for bid. A temporary solution resulted in former assistants Troy Hochstetler and Greg Mathis sharing the load as co-coaches.
Not surprisingly, the Bulldogs struggled through a dismal 2-8 season. They were 1-4 at home and 1-4 on the road.
Zephyrhills principal Steve Van Gorden said the school is advertising for the vacancy with the Florida High School Athletic Association and the Pasco County school district. Plans call for announcing a new coach at a school press conference by mid-January.
Van Gorden, Fisher and Zephyrhills athletic director Bruce Cimorelli are among nine people on a screening committee to interview candidates. Others include Alan Reed, Gwen Compton, Greg First, Marcus McCants, Nora Williams and Derrick Tucker.
The first round of interviews begins Dec. 9. By Dec. 14, Van Gorden and the committee hope to narrow the applicants down to the top three. Those candidates will be brought back for a final round of interviews during the week of Jan. 11.
Van Gorden has scheduled a Jan. 15 press conference at 10 a.m. at the school to announce the Bulldogs’ new football coach.
