Austin will retire

Northeast's Jerry Austin, the county's all-time winningest football coach, said Thursday he is retiring after 28 years at the school.

Under Austin, who will turn 63 in March, the Vikings made the playoffs eight times and had a county-record 43-game regular season win streak from 1996-1999.

Austin's record of 196-104 is tops among all county coaches. In 1997, Austin surpassed Clearwater's Earle Brown as the winningest coach in county history. Austin told players of his plans during a team meeting Wednesday night. He said he made his decision because he is in the final year of the drop program, a lucrative retirement plan that requires participants to leave after eight years.

There is no timetable set to name his replacement.

-- BOB PUTNAM

Comments

Ooooh. I think that I am going to cry.

Congratulations to Coach Austin on a great career.
I hope they look at some of the great coordinators in this county to replace him.

great guy

its about time for bostic to retire too, clearwater would actually be half way decent if old yeller stepped down.

Who are the leading candidates to replace this pinellas county legend?

He is not a great guy but congrats on a longstanding career

8:39 Co'mon...everybody knows his last name is AUSTIN!

But can he cuss as good as his ol' man?

Will N-East just give it to his son, or will they do what is right and open it to everyone in the county and take the best possible candidate? If they do that, and still feel Jay is the best candidate then congrats. If not then they will do their student athletes a huge dis-service. Schools should always hire the best candidate...

Here is my vote for Bruce Buck to get the job.

Buck should read the FHSAA Rules book first..little Austin is a problem waiting to happen. He needs to go elsewhere to get out of his daddys shoes. He's in a no win situation at NEHI. He will be.. you lost what your dad built or your living thru your dad.

So the question is:

Who will be the next Coach at NEHI?

Who will be the next coach at Gibbs?

Who will be the next coach at SPC?

Can we get a thread to see what the public Thinks?

old austin at spc

[Inside Info]

Jerry is going to Canterbury and taking Webber with him so they can install the spread. They offered Jerry $10k to come and Webb $8500.

I guess it is really tough for the NEHI coaches to stay off the blogs. Still having fun? Aren't most of you teachers? Shouldnt you be in class teaching? I think I heard of a coach/teacher who got fired because he was found to be posting on the blogs during school time, and on a school computer. Wonder how he got "blog busted"? Hmmm....need to start thinking!

OK, I'm really had my fill of having to look at good ole Jers mug.....get it off, I cant sleep at nite

Jerry is sooooooooo hot!!!!!!!!!!

Whether you like Jerry or not is really not at issue rather it is the fact that he is one of the most successful coaches in Pinellas history. He is like Neal Diamond, either you love or hate him.

Jerry, I wish you the best of luck and say congrats on a long and successful career that you should be proud of.

[You Jealous Bastards]

Every coach in Pinellas would love to have Jerry's success.

[ETC]

Very True

Who the hell is Neal Diamond?

[Tank Black]

Did someone compare Jerry to Neil Diamond?

I 've never seen Jerry wear a sequin shirt?

Love it!!

I bet he cant sing a lick too

why don't you tell jerry he can't sing

Ask some of the refs throughout the state if Jerry can sing. Cause I know they hear him every Thursday and Friday night for 41 years.

Jerry never scratch a ref in his career. He just had a big time messing with the sorry ones.

Ok, Jerry, YOU CANT SING!

Jerry didnt get on the ref's it was his stupid kids. I saw a ref one night bring out the rulebook and hand it to them and ask them to read it. Jerry thought that was funny as heck..By the way they are still on page 1. Yes you can have pass interference without making contact...

Free at last, Free at last, Thank God almighty we are free at last.

Hopefully there will be a little bit of color and life brought into the good old boy system at Northeast.

The king is dead. Long live a return to the playoffs!!!

>>Hopefully there will be a little bit of color and life brought into the good old boy system at Northeast.

What in the heck is the last post saying? Is that a racist comment or does it only count when you question a hire?

jer can't sing and maybe he can't read but he sure could coach. He beat our ass more times than i care to count.only in pinellas would you have $2 refs rippin the coaches when you only have to score a 70 on the rules test to be an official. interesting remark though. explain how there can be pass interference w/o contact. some of you guys get off your bread truck and come out and try to the games over so you can get to the winghouse. you don't want to open that can of worms. too many of ya don't belong out there, even more little league.

Oh God...Don't start a thread on here picking on the referees in this county. The Times' computer system might crash there would be so many complaints.

See how smart you are, it's a 75 for high school officials not 70. The pass interference without contact is also correct as statetd above. I have done Coach Austins games for 18 years and have never had a problem with him or the sons. I will miss hearing him say there holding my boys, every play. I think he's funny to listen to on the field and I will miss him. Good luck in the future Jerry.

Keep the blog, just get rid of the picture....cant stand lookin at his ugly mug anymore

Hey if quacks like a duck and kick backs kids off the team ... They will finally get the kids now that the old cracker is gone. 30 years of a cussing fowl spirited some say racist old coot. Time for a change and finally an opportunity that is long overdue.

Austin = racist bastard whose time needed to end years ago... thank god the county finally got rid of the A-hole.... he is like Kilmer from Varsity Blues... a piece of scum

Well I bet we can all guess who made that last comment.

mancuso get off the blog.

Red neck racist cracker. Northeast will start to get the kid who don't want to play for a racist. As long as they don't hire his racist special- ed teach cracker of a son.

Wow, its finally out in the open for good ole Jer

Jerry was a tough guy but not a racist. You are just one of the many kids that did not want to work. And got run butt ran off. What did he call you a little league hero. No Jerry did not kiss any kids butt.

Jerry racist? probably not, southern cracker? no doubt. Good coach? 70% plus in the wins, doing something right. Northeast could have been better? without question, Jerry did as little as possible with the kids & for the kids, he was a good coach & he did help them graduate, but that was IT! NEHI has never scratched its potential!

play him and watch little kids knot the sh-- out of your pets.

LITTLE KIDS, QUIT TALKIN SHIT, WE BEAT THEM 2 TIMES THIS YEAR THAT RIGHT 2 TIMES, YALL AINT LITTLE, YOU GOT SHAQ & =SANCHEZ & hANLEY & 44, AND 71 THIOSE BOYZ WERE AS BIG AS ANYONE WE PLAYED, BIGGER THEN PLANT TO. wE STILL GOT ON THAT ASS
THATS RIGHT

ohs

the racist got over 120 african americans in school over the years. he never kissed any ass for 38 years. hell, mancuso and john davis kiss more ass a day than jer did in his career. a lot of his old black players work with me and they call him a lot of things but never a racist. they love his old crusty ass. they trust him, they play hard for him. a lot of the people on this blog don't have there kids trust and that is why they lose on a regular basis. jerry always had his ear to the ground and knew what was going on through his players. ask mancuso, haha. the kids knew and in turn jerry knew. jerry, congrats on around 200 wins and dont worry about these wannabes that would have to add all there wins together to get 25% of yours. you have done a lot for the lives of the kids you have come in contact with over the years. people that know them know this. they can never take that away. i bet you you don't even know this thing exists but if you do have a hoot and congratulations again.

ohs, never heard of them.

Bet you did 2 time sthais year

I worked that game. One of the administrators said that was the first time in 16 years that Palmer beat Jerry. Also it was the first time in Osceolas history they beat Northeast. Palmer said it took all 18 seniors and every trick play he had. It was truly a great game...............Great career Jerry, congratulations.

Who gives a shit about Jerry Austin? He is old news? retired, done, out, maybe now Northeast will get a coach who really cares about the kids!!!!!!! The good ole days are gone, go get a job at Southside, HAHA! The Northeast job is on the website & Im sure theyre are plenty of quality canidates to chose from. Now the kids will get Justice!

Way to represent, pimp.........Got spell check, or is that your edumakation kickin' in dawg?

Lotta hate. Must be one that got his ass whipped or one that couldn't play. Probably both. Congrats Jerry. Loved or Hated you won.

play him

To the post at 1:47PM...You're calling them racist crackers all in one sentence??? Who is the racist with a statement like that???

Someone must know who the frontrunners are for the NEHI job...please post. Merry Christmas.

I know who it isn't now that Web is on administrative leave.

Jerry coached both myself, my brothers and my son! Whether you liked him or did not, there's is not a whole lotta folks in the country that know as much about football as he does. He has changed over the years. When he first arrived he was a tough disciplinarian; by the time he left, as the kids changed so did he and he was quite the opposite. He definitely was not racist; in fact at times you'd wonder if the opposite wasn't true and he overlooked some of the white guys on the team. Bottomline though, he was...and is a winner!!!! Best of luck Coach Austin!!!

I hear Canterbury's been searcing for a good football coach for two years!! Austin could certainly fit that bill.

Retire Austin, retire the wing t, retire his racist special ed teaching, transfered 3 times son as well.

People who get hated on usually deserve it.

You never hear the heart felt testimonials from players of color telling warm fuzzy stories about jer or jr going the extra mile to get them into a d3 school.

You rarely hear the stories from players of no color telling those stories either, it's just most of them weren't waiting for a handout; they made their own breaks!!!

retire ole jer maybe. he went out on his own terms. not for losin, not for the old standard "spend time with family}..(i.e. i gave up) and definitely not for cheatin. if you retire the wing-t you would have to retire half the county offenses. half the playoff teams as well. nice post dumbass!

if you say racist you are flat out wrong!! if you say harder on a certain group of kids maybe. he seemed to be a little harder on the white kids in my experience. he expected a lot out of every player. he would play ya till you dropped if you were worth a damn. if you weren't worth a damn you didn't get much time. jerry plays his best 15 or 16 kids. 5 or 6 both ways. that is probably why a lot of the hate is on here, typical, blame someone else right? if you couldn't play you didn't. hell, he played his starting qb at lb the whole way. i think he was on all special teams as well.......he won and the kids loved him.

Why would you make teaching special education seem like a bad thing? I don't get that. That has been posted on here more than once. Probably by the same person surely. People are "hated" on for a lot of reasons. Main reason being envy. You are probably the guy that posted here on CHRISTMAS DAY!!!! Get a life and leave that teacher bashing for another board. He should be commended for being a special education teacher.

I am a black player and so are my sons. Jerry never saw color but he could damn sure see and evaluate talent. He didn't care how big or small you were either. If you could play you played. IF YOU COULDN'T PLAY YOU DIDN'T. YOU GOT ON THE ST. PETE TIMES BLOG AND BASHED THE GUY AND TEAMS YOU WEREN'T GOOD ENOUGH TO PLAY ON. HELL, YOU SHOULD PUT YOUR NAME UNDER YOUR POST, NO ONE REMEMBERS YOU ANYWAY!

I don't know about all that other stuff, but I do know one thing for sure. Jerry Austin is the only coach ever that could roll through any part of the southside and not have to worry about a damn thing. He has respect on the southside.

who is up for the spc job? i heard a lot of names,the one i heard they would like to apply is a o/c who used to coach at spc who has been coaching many years in the county.

Why dont yall leave jerry alone, he couldnt give 2 shits about what any of you think or say!

That is not true. Along with his southern "charm" he is loyal to those who are loyal to him...and he does care. But thanks for the advice!!

Special ed is the easiest class to get certified for. If you cant pass the test for anything else you teach special ed. Just like being an education major. They have the lowest test scores of any major out there. There is a reson they have experssions about brain surgeons and rocket scientists.

Those you can do those who cant teach and those that can't do either run the wing-t. Largo, Dunedin, and Countryside where the three best teams in the county by a lot and none of them run the wing-t. Seminole and Northeast are the 2 big wing-t programs in the county and neither one made the playoffs. Maybe if the ran something elese they would.

You must have majored in special education or you were in special education classes. Nice spelling and sentence structure there rocket scientist. St. Pete and Oscelola run the wing-t brain surgeon and they were both in the playoffs. This has been argued before but the wing-t has won more state championships than any other offense in the history of the playoffs. The wing-t has won more games than any other in the county, which isn't saying much but it is true.Does Bolles, Chaminade, Palm Beach Gardens ring a bell?....you astronaut. I think Jer is a drivers ed. teacher anyway.

I think that Northeast should look outside the box for a head coach? There are many Youth coaches that have won multiple titles who would be good canidates? Then you wouldnt have to waste a teacher job? just a thouht?

YOUTH LEAGUE????? THAT IS WHAT IS WRONG WITH A LOT OF THESE KIDS AND PROGRAMS. PROMISES, PROMISES, AND MORE PROMISES. THE LITTLE LEAGUE HERO SYNDROME IS KILLING HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS. 10TH GRADERS PLAYIN LITTLE LEAGUE AND THE COACHES KISSIN THEIR ASS ,PAYIN THEIR WAY WHILE THE KID AIN'T HITTIN A LICK IN THE CLASSROOM. BUT HEY, THEY WON THE P.Y.I.U.Y.Y.L.A.T.L.F.L. CHAMPIONSHIP. THE HEAD COACH SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE A TEACHER OR VICE VERSA.

Ill bet you do wish that coaches had to be teachers, sounds like you feel a threat?

If you are a HS head coach, and you are concerned about youth football having influence and sway on your HS program, then you have a big, big problem, and probably shouldnt be coaching HS football.

"Youth football is killing HS football" - has to be one of the best quotes on this blog. Good stuff! You have no clue, but hey, I got a laugh tonight...thanks!

I have been a youth coach and I believe there are many who have the knowledge and ability to be a head coach at the high school level. In fact many know more about the game and could teach it better than 90% of the assistants at the high school level today. HOWEVER, I believe in order to be a Head Coach one should have to be a teacher or certified to be. That is their chosen path of occupation and some part-time, thinks their Vince Lombardi shouldn't be rewarded for NOT choosing that path.

Besided many of those Youth coaches have violated recruiting rules and may have more skeleton's in their closet than the school knows about or cares to deal with. At least as teachers they have more control over their off field activities and actions, and how they reflect on the school and school board. There are plenty of qualified coaches who are teachers; pick one for NEHI who's career path is that!!!

While I agree that youth football does not hurt high school football in general, there are many youth coaches today who are teaching the game incorrectly and not properly preparing young men to compete at the high school level. This is more of a detriment to the child than the program. What's needed is for the high school coaches to embrace the youth leagues and be willing to do some clinics for them so they are teaching correctly. Of course, you have some youth coaches who believe they know more than the high school head coach and won't listen anyway; those people need to be retired from the game all together!!

As a Special Education Teacher and coach I take offense to the post that stated Special Education is the easiest major. Not only do you have to be well versed in several subect areas, but you also have to be a case manager for at least 20-40 students. That means enourmous amounts of paperwork and meetings throughout the year in addition to your teaching duties. So stop the bashing of Spec. Ed teachers. I guess P.E. is off the hook as the easiest major. Give me a break. As for the youth league coach as a head coach in H.S. If you want to be a Head Coach, educate yourself. Get a degree and EARN THE RIGHT. Because being a former head coach, there is much more to it than you BIG -TIME BLOGGERS THINK!! The hours you put in and spend away from your own family to help other's are countless. You guys do not have a clue. GET AN EDUCATION/TEACHING CERTIFICATE AND WE'LL TALK THEN. THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT A PROFESSIONAL POSITION. GET A GRIP AND AN EDUCATION!!

"Vaya con Dios"

Hey with the Vaya Con Dios does that mean you were at or are going to go to SPC?? "Go with God" is the meaning, correct? Thanks for the input here; it's very welcome.

The only thing wrong with Youth football is the Midget class. There is where the kids get spoiled, get totally behind in their education, and end up with a load of talent and not able to play at the HighSchool level because of not being eligible or because of their "star" attitude.

[Pinellas Insider]

I know this guy who has a good source that is a friend of his brother who saw Mark Wizawaty drive past Northeast H.S. the other day. He also heard from a homeless hobo on the southside that Wiz was also seen driving by Gibbs H.S. Coincidence; I THINK NOT!!!!

Wow, I haven't seen or heard from our about Wiz in 10 or 11 years. Is he still even teaching? I'd love to see Wiz at NEHI! His enthusiasm instilled in that program with his John McClay roots...WOW!

wiz was hired by good ole jer at nehi.

How about fresh blood...no retreads or ole guys that where good once long ago. But please, let's not say that a youth football coach is qualified to take a large, public program with tradition like NEHI.

john mcclay was a loser from start to finish. jerry passed him up in his first 5 years.

I will bet anyone that there is only about two youth coaches that could coach at the high school level. If you are a youth coach and you think you can be a head coach at the high school level you are wrong. I was a youth coach for about ten years and when i first got my chance to be an assistant at the high school level it took a year or two to get use to the speed and power at this level. It is not even a close comparisson.

Also i see year in and year out 9th graders playing youth and then their 10th grade year they come out and are way behind the other kids who played high school their freshman year. And it is even worse for the kids who play youth in 9th and 10th then come out for varsity in the 11th.

High school is a big eye opener for alot of kids especialy lineman who are use to blocking kids their own wieght in youth then they come up there 10th grade year and have to block a kid that weighs 250 or even 300 and thay get upset that they are no longer the alstar and quit. if a kid is in high school he plays highschool. My son is playing jv football and he only wieghts 92lbs at 5' tall. But it has done alot for him emotionally. I would not trust a youth coach to coach my son cause i see it out there everyday at youth field uneducated coaches letting the studs on the team go head up with the smallest kid on the team. Well i am just rambling now but you get my point

Ding dong the wicked witch is dead.

Well I coached two years at the high school level and then 18 in youth. I know I could coach high school football and there are many other youth coaches who could. The questions is should they be a head coach at that level without being in the school system? I say NO! As for Coach McClay, he certainly was not and never will be a loser!! He may not have had the record that some would have like but he was a class individual and coach and when all is said and done, he certainly is a WINNER. I only regret that he left the year before I had the chance to play there. I played for Austin his first year there and he too is an excellent coach, so no slam on him. But John McClay should never be classified as a loser!!!!!!!!!!

Which witch the wicked witch, ding dong the wicked witch is dead.

I said no youth coach is ready to go from youth to a head coach on a varsity level at a 4, 5 or 6a school. Say all you want but you or no one else around here is ready for that ask Capanna at CCC he was the winningest youth coach ever and he is still onky an offensive coordinator.

Brooks gave it a shot at canterbury which is a small school and he did some things right but where is he now oh yea Lakewood as an assistant.

Different coaches fit different levels of play and styles. But you'll also find many youth coaches whose record is indicates that they followed the talent up and down the four levels so they always had the best chance to win and be impressive. Brooks certainly fits that bill, which is likely why is not at Canterbury any longer; their talent pool must be running low!!!!

Coaches who are truly successful are ones who are there to teach kids football and who want them to leave each year as better football players than when they arrived. In that process you build a strong program that will typically turn out consistent winners. But going undefeated and yet not improving your players is worse than going O-fer and every kid leaving the field better than when they arrived.

So the best judge of a great coach, youth or high school, is who is the best teacher of football, not the best record; that will take care of itself!

God this is getting old. Will Jerry hurry and die already.

That was a low class comment, even if you hate his guts

has anyone given these guys a shot as a head coach. look around the guy at ccc runs one of the most balanced offenses around rumor has it they would want him to apply at spc and he would be a great fit but maybe this is what he wants to do. i have scouted his system it would work at any level and he knows how to teach it that is important.

Are you saying that Jalazo wants to go to SPC? OR is CCC supoosed to be something else?

People who have haters have them for a reason.

Jerry is a bitter hater. He is a jealous old man who has watched the game pass him by. Instead of aging gracefully and going out with some class he attacks everyone else and files a ton of complaints. Maybe 1 out of 20 has any merit. He is upset that he is not just competing against other drivers ed teachers anymore. He was afraid of losing the only job he could ever get if he got caught recruiting. He hated any other coach who did not have that problem like Cops/Sherifs.

It has gotten more competitive in Pinellas county and he cant win any more and he cant stand it. He cant make the playoffs anymore so he cries like a little girl. That is his legacy that is why he has haters. Oh plus being a racist jerk helps as well. There is a reason you keep hearing that claim.

not jalazo the o/c at ccc, jalazo is the head coach and defense coordinator i think the o/c at ccc should be a head coach if he wanted to i have coached against his teams he can do it at any level.

People coach different levels for different reasons. I am sure there are plenty of youth coaches who are qualified to coach at the HS level, but because of their careers, youth football is their only viable option to coach. Which could lend to the argument that a HS head coach should be employed at the school, in whatever capacity that is. However, I will say this again, I am certain there are qualified youth coaches who simply cant do HS because of career conflicts.

As for Brooks, or Capagna, I think their great success at the youth level has translated rather well to the HS level. Capagna has been an OC now for SPC and CCC, and has helped lead his teams over those years to impressive records and above average offensive numbers. Brooks did in fact get a head job after many years as an assistant at SPC, and if you looked at Canterbury's success last year, I think you could argue he knows what he is doing as well. And before anyone argues that they did this at smaller schools, remember, they are coaching against like school, and still were successful. It is not like they have the talent of Largo, and are out playing Keswick!

I think you will see both Brooks and Capagna as head coaches in the county in the not so distant future.

Brooks success at Canterbury was because they was exceptional talent there last year. I'm sure he moved on because he saw the talent pool drying up, just like he did in youth. He'd move from division to division wherever the talent was going to be to make sure he looked good. The only reason they kept him around at the youth level was for his wife's Outback money!! And on the HS level he recruited illegally and cost programs dearly. That's good for the resume!!

Austin won many games over all the years he was there. The game definitely did not pass him by. And he was a reverse racist, if he was anything. He certainly NEVER favored whites over blacks...NEVER!!!

As for Capanna, I believe he is certainly one who could win as a Head Coach at the high school level and hope he gets his shot. Whether you like him or not, or disagree with him or not, he could get the most out of whatever talent he coached. I've always admired him as a coach!!

Exceptional talent at a school with 85 students...must have been a prime situation over there for Brooks! And can I have some of his wife's Outback money too? I can find somewhere nice for him!

Werent all of the best players at Canterbury juniors this past year? Wonder where they went.

Not exceptional when compared to a real school but, for that level and the level Brooks has the ability to handle. I'm sure if you kiss their a-- like others you can get some Outback money too, sure!!!

I think someone has a mancrush on Brooks and is a little bitter!

Jerry could not get the job done anymore with a boatload of talent. It was time to go. He could not make the playoffs or win the disctrricts anymore. For petes sake he could not even control his own locker room.

[22 yr. VET COACH]

I hear Austin is going to st pete catholic. mancuso and davis are gonna be the recruiting coordinators. brooks is gonna be the o.c. st louis is going to be the d.c..........as far as the game passing him by i am not so sure. had some .500 seasons at the end but hell, half the programs in this county go .500 year in and year out. 3 Losing seasons in 28 years? come on that is a hell of a record no matter how you gauge it. No one in this county is averaging 7 wins a year for their career. It may not be done again for that period of time (28 yrs.) 7 wins a year that is sick!! You new guys with all this talk behind anonymous really need to sit back and think about that. i have coached around here a long time and he is almost 100 games above .500!! That may never be done again. Roper, Bostic, Palmer, Gordan, Bruch, Everette, Morey, Davis, and Rodriguez can never reach that. Just another perspective to Austins career. Like him or not he won and nobody liked to play him.........As far as being racist, I know a lot of his former players both black and white. They love him. The envy and jeolousy on here is ridiculous. The guy won games and graduated his players. He may have some personality flaws but you are nitpicking the guy with this other talk. He told everyone he was going to win, He did......He told all his parents their kids would graduate, they did. He told Mancuso he was going to get him, He did. Love him or hate him he was a winner. He backed up his talk. Another little known fact is that no coach in Pinellas county has a winning record against ole jer with the exception of Rodriguez. They only played twice. THAT HAS GOTTA HURT, and I imagine that is the reason all this nitpicking is going on. Just another perspective.

i ran into coach capanna over the holidays i asked him what his plans were for this new year he said he was stayiny put at ccc could be another good year unless someone calls but he was laughing this would be his 31st year but he still enjoys it teaching the game as he put it

I highly doubt Austin would take Brooks with him anywhere. He says he's the worst QB that ever played for him and has belittled him as a coach. I also can't imagine him taking a risk on him with his record for violating the rules. Austin has a certain offense he runs and I don't see anything or anyone getting him away from that.

I am not sure what Brooks did to everyone's corn flakes, but he may very well be the most villified coach on these boards with the exception of Mancusso.

Funny thing is, I know Brooks personally, and he laughs all of these things off, and finds it rather comical that someone actually writes on blogs about him. You can say what you want about him, but I can guarantee you that he doesnt care. Brooks knows what he can do, and many in the county know too. The fact that Austin has a problem with him is his problem. Funny little known fact, Austin had asked Brooks to coach with him for several years, and even asked him to coach with him after the SPC fall-out. Take that for what it is worth! But now he belittles Brooks...funny how that works out.

9:39 We all know that is you SHANNON. Get of the blog with all your bullshit. You know damn well Austin didn't ask you to caoch with him. He would do it by himself before he would of hired you. You know that as well as everyone else in the county. Stop trying to talk yourself up. You have done NOTHING. People mention you because YOU put yourself on here with all these absurd claims. You and Otis should get along fine, you both are huge self-promoters with NO accomplishments to speak of.

Brooks for St. Pete mayor!! Austin will be his advertising manager!

Out with the old, in with the new. Any word yet on who the candidates are for NE?

Any little birdies talking? Heard anything yet Jay?

I guarantee you Brooks cares what's written and said about him...GUARANTEED!!! And I know his wife cares more, as she wears the pants in that family anyway. So watch out for her if you keep up the negative about him!

I love it anonymous calling out anonynmous. 22 year vet coach like that is not anonyomous!!!!

Tow undebatable facts Jerry lost control of his players and his locker room this year. Has that happened before or is he losing it? His kid had to step in and clean it up. Has that happend before or is he losing it?

He did not make the playoffs for two years in a row and has not won a district in what 5 years. Has that happened before or is he losing it?

They lose to talk about the past with Jerry never the present. The present has been way underperforming.

Out with the old with the new thank god.

how about 2003 ne district champs a hole.

It is now 2007 my friend. No districts and no playoffs in 2004, 2005,2006. With great talent!

But he is not losing it, he is not being passed by. No that could not be it.

This brings me back to my Neil Diamond analogy. There are really two camps in Pinellas County and that is the Jerrys and the anti-Jerrys. It is funny though reading these blogs. History will show Jerry to be one of the best ever in Pinellas history.

I don't buy it for a minute that Brooks just laughs off what is written about him. Nobody wants to hear or read that they cheat and that they suck. The Otis show should be fun to watch next year.

I am not anti Jerry. It was time for him to go, the game or the kids had passed him by. He can't control his locker room and can't win like he used to. Give a younger better coach a chance. There are to many like jerry and the guy at Clearwater that are over the hill and stay way to long.

No one defends what he has done in the last three years with the best talent in the county. Because you cant defend it. He doesnt make the playoffs and his team makes the news for his son and a player getting into it in the locker room.

Bye don't let the door hit you on the ass on your way out.

So will there be any discussion on who is taking the job at NE? Or, is this just going to be I coach youth league so I can coach 80 kids in a JV/Varsity program, keep track of what they do on and off the field, make sure they maintain the proper GPA, and get them into college thread? Give me a break...most the kids that play little league as 9th and 10th graders only do it because it is easier and they don't have to keep their grades up. Youth league coaches are coaching youth league for a reason. They can't controll their players off the field, and they won't give the time that varsity head coaches give.

Well that is a stupid analogy. A lot of youth coaches coach there because they make more money doing their jobs than they could teaching so, they didn't pursue a teaching career. However, they have a love of the game and a love of coaching young men, so they sacrafice time over and above their everyday lives. Paid coaches do it because they choose to AND they get paid; it's what they do with their lives, not over and above. So both are very dedicated to what they do!!!! And youth coaches can and do take into account and track what their players do OFF the field every bit as much if not more than a lot of high school coaches do. Wake up and smell the coffee!!!!!!!!!

If the youth coaches do such a great job of tracking what their kids do off the field, then why do the majority of them have a gpa of under 2.0? Paid coaches??? Have you seen the way pinellas county "pays" their coaches. It is a joke compared to other areas. Most coaches in this county make cents an hour for what they do.

who has the inside scoop on who spc& canterbury is going to hire. some of the rumors we hear may not be bad moves.is the ccc coach staying as someone said or is he leaving, i hear a long shot for nehi.why not the d/c taking it that would be a good fit.

Rumor in the county is that the Osceola HC has an in with administration & wants to get out?

Replace Jerry with someone who can control the locker room and who has won somewhere else. OHS beat NEHI twice this year if he wants the job hire him. Imagine what that guy could do with all the talent NEHI gets. I think NEHI gets way better raw talent than any school north of ulmerton road and all but one to the south. The Largo coach would win state championships with that talent.

I don't know about that. I don't think palmer beat jerry but 1 time. Palmer is about .500 for his career. Need new not retreads.

palmer was 1 and 9 vs. ole jer.

He beat him in their games this year and in the ditrict tie breaker as well. So that was twice this year which is what I said.

I don't think they count towards records. Twist it whatever way ya want. He has won only 1 football game against jerry in his career. He is only a handful of games above .500 for his career. Ole jer is 100 games above .500. You cannot compare the two. It is no contest. Even a blind squirrell finds a nut sometimes. Why are you up so late?

I didn't say they paid coaches a lot of money to coach but, they are paid coaches in that it is their career as teachers and coaches. Understand now??! And I didn't say ALL youth coaches but SOME, track their players on and off the field. Understand now??! You must have gone to St. Pete High???????

Jerry's kids love to talk about the past. He did not beat him twice this year. No the tie breaker to make the playoffs does not count. Tell the kids making the playoffs doesnt count.

He cant win like he used to, and he cant control his locker room like he used to. Either the kids or the game has passed him by.

Time for a new generation, fresh blood.

bet he would love to play p park, palm harbor and clearwater for the district every year.

Typical NEEI comment. P Park is not even in the same district as Palm Harbor and Clearwater.

Jerry used to be able to win the district.

Time to go.

true comment. anyone would love to be in the little league up north.

I don't think that is just neei sentiments. pretty much universal feeling throughout the county. Only easier district would be tarpon springs who is in the "ridge" league.

Jerry used to beat the same teams.

Now it is oh the district is to hard I am going to cry.

Time for a change.

Jerry retired because of the financial package, that's it. It's time to look to the future, not the past. Whose next to hold the honor of being the Northeast coach and what can true NEHI fans do to support that person?!

People still love to talk smack, but there hasnt been one word leaked as to who the candidates even are, never mind who is in line to get the position.

NEHI never even posted the position as open on the FHSAA website. I am assuming this is a sign that they are taking applications from local coaches only? Do they already have someone in mind? Does NEHI need Jerry's blessing?

Whats the word on the street?

It is a bag job.

It is Ole Jer's kid. They are not even really going to interview anyone else. The principal for some reason love Jr.

They will deny it but it is over

George Palmer interviewed today & has strong ties to the program, so dont count your chickens just yet.

GO JAY AUSTIN!!!!! CONGRATS

Will Jay stay with the Wing-T?

He wont be making that call

u guys are all dorks, this blog ic for the kids, let them do their thing. who cares wo the coach is?

u guys are all dorks, this blog ic for the kids, let them do their thing. who cares wo the coach is?

who is palmer?

Hey Dumb-ass? this blog is about a coach retiring, & naturally that brings up the question of who will replace him.

TEFLON DON?

Did they actually hire Junior? Or is it just speculation. Of course the kids care who the coach is. Especially when the new coach gets investigated for his conduct in the locker room.

I love the way everybody wants to ignor the fact that Jay has been on the coaching staff (and a faculty member at NEHI) for something like eight years now. He deserves consideration!

Also, regardless of what happened in the locker room, Jay has been cleared and most people know that the kid was a problem.

The players, parents and the community at large do care who the next coach will be and it is too bad that more news about the process is not being released.

Consideration yes...the job...NO!! There are way too many great assistants in this county to just give it away to him because of who his dad is.

Yeah and they have sucked it up for the last three. Hire him. He knows how to lose with overwhelming talent. It's a family tradition.

I would hope it's not Jay. He does not have the burning desire to take the next step and get NEHI to the championship level. It would be just status quo with him. They need someone young and hungry who will work tirelessly to move the Vikings to the next level.

Why do you say that Jay does not have a desire to build a winner again at NEHI? You really think he wants to just assend to the HC position and do nothing? I don't agree. I think he has been waiting for his opportunity and if given it, will make the most of it.

I still chuckle at everyone that says loosing is a family tradition. For Christ's sake, Jerry is the winningest coach in Pinellas history.

The only concern that I would have is whether Jay will have the testicular fortitude to make changes on the staff; to bring in guys he would feel could do the job. NEHI has a long time staff but a shake-up just might be what is needed to energize.

I still say that Jay should be given his shoot as HC. If it doesn't improve in three years, then look elsewhere.

Well, I don't think losing is a Austin family tradition; I liked Jerry, played for Jerry and know he's everybit the winner. But having been in and around the situation since Jerry's first year, I think Jay would be better suited to take a program at another school and build his own legacy, if that's to be, while NEHI should go a different direction themselves. I have nothing at all against Jay, just don't think he'd have the same drive. If he gets it I'd love to be proven wrong; they certainly could do much worse than Jay...like a Brooks!!!

Jay Austin better hope that coach Crawford & coach Celeste dont leave!! I personally know that the kids respect and love thoses guys!

The last three years the Austin's have managed to lose with by far the best talent pool in the county. Let's see just how much Jr. loves the wing-t now that dad is gone. My guess is it will be thrown out by the spring game.

Bet it ain't!

Does that mean they were stupid enough to give Jay the job??

Yeah. He says he will open it up and throw eight times instead of four. He doesnt think Sanchez can get it done. He is staying with the wing t for a least a season. He doesnt want to make dad look bad by changing right away. If he gets off to a bad start that will all change.

They really gave Jay the job? Has that been announced and confirmed? That SUCKS!

Na Na Na Na
Na Na Na Na

Hey Hey Good-Bye.

Thank god. Free at last. Free at last.
Thank god all mighty we are free at last!!!!!!!!!!!!

john davies yousuck