Guthrie Hired at TBT

Joe Guthrie, whose diverse resume spans several time zones and at least one war zone, has been hired as baseball coach at Tampa Bay Tech.

An Iraq War veteran who spent five years as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army, Guthrie replaces Zac Walker, who resigned to become coach at Newsome. He inherits a team that finished 4-19 in 2007.

A graduate of Tuscaloosa County (Ala.) High, Guthrie, 28, had brief stints at two SEC baseball programs -- Kentucky and Alabama -- but didn't letter at either. Currently a part-time scout with the Marlins, he spent one year as coach at a prep school in Seattle before relocating with his wife to the bay area.

This past season, he taught physical education and assisted the middle school baseball team at St. Petersburg Canterbury.

"He kind of raised himself above the rest (of the applicants) after we interviewed him," said TBT principal Chris Farkas, who formally interviewed seven candidates.

"We knew playing in the SEC and being a scout for the Marlins that his baseball knowledge is solid, and we feel like his life experiences are pretty impressive. ... He can teach our kids the whole picture of being a student-athlete."

A versatile prep/college player, Guthrie signed with Kentucky out of high school, exited after one semester, then spent the next year and a half at Bevill (Ala.) State Community College. He moved to Alabama and spent his junior season as a redshirt before calling it a career.

"I was one of those guys who had a lot of injuries and was tired of being in the whirlpool," Guthrie said.

He joined the National Guard as a senior at Alabama and continued to serve while earning his masters degree at Jacksonville (Ala.) State. From October 2004 to September 2005, he served as a liaison officer in Iraq, where he worked closely with various Iraqi combat groups.

A resident of Lithia, he likely will teach P.E. and/or social studies at Tampa Bay Tech.

"When I was growing up in Tuscaloosa, I always heard how good baseball was in Tampa, and when I got down here I thought it would be great to get a job at a place that maybe hasn't had a lot of success, and try to put a stamp on the program," Guthrie said. "I think there's that potential there."