Spoto football coach steps down
Scott Palmer loved the Spoto football family. But because he felt a need to spend more time with his family at home, he has resigned his position as Spartans head coach.
"I have a 2-year old and a 5-year old at home," Palmer said. "I could not give (Spoto) the time that was needed for them to be successful. I needed to step down for the betterment of my family."
Palmer, 38, coached Spoto two seasons. In 2006, the Spartans, then a first-year program, played a junior varsity schedule. Last fall, Spoto's first against varsity competition, the Spartans went 3-7. The team's biggest win was a midseason upset over then-unbeaten Tampa Bay Tech.
Palmer has informed Spoto administrators that he will coach the team through spring practice, which should lesson the blow of his departure. Practice starts Thursday. Palmer said he hopes to coach somewhere in the fall, but as an assistant.
"I appreciated the opportunity (at Spoto)," Palmer said. "I liked the kids. They're good kids. I think that's going to be a hotbed in the future."
--KEITH NIEBUHR
The St. Petersburg Times High School Sports blog is written and compiled by the Times preps sports staff from Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties. We invite your participation in the comments area.
Another Hillsborough coach bites the dust...
Posted by: | April 28, 2008 at 09:24 PM
Anyone know who they are going to hire? Lets get someone who is experienced and won't quit on kids!
Posted by: Spoto Fan | April 28, 2008 at 10:10 PM
He wants to spend more time with his family, but he hopes to coach somewhere in the fall as an assistant.
What is really going on?
Posted by: | April 29, 2008 at 08:15 AM
What is really going on is that he wants to spend more time with his kids. WHy is that so hard to comprehend? Being a head football coach is your life.
Posted by: | April 29, 2008 at 08:35 AM
I know a coach from Hardee who was the finalist for the Lennard and Plant City job who put his name in the Spoto hat. Lennard had to hire within due to teaching units and Plant City hired that guy merely on the fact that he was a college assistant. Hardee has been 78-17 since the year 2000.
Posted by: HWfan01 | April 29, 2008 at 11:42 AM
You cannot even compare coaches who coach as an "assistant" in one program and then become a head coach in another. the two are worlds apart. The coach may be a good coach, even a great coach but he is an assistant.
Posted by: | April 29, 2008 at 03:19 PM
evry head coach was an assistant coach, before dummy.
Posted by: | April 29, 2008 at 09:14 PM
Not every assistant makes it as a head coach and clearly this guy couldn't cut it. The guy from Hardee is no head coach ask anyone who really knows him. Not a bad guy but he is no head coach. Everyone who has interviewed him has seen that too.
Posted by: | April 29, 2008 at 10:05 PM
2 interviews determines whether a young coach is ready to be a head coach? There is a lot more that goes into it. Schools and coaches have to share the same philosophies. Plus trying to see what a coach is certified in and try to match that with the teaching openings they have. I've worked with the guy from Hardee and when God is ready and the right school comes along he will get that opportunity. I doubt you really know him as a coach, teacher, and person, but you are entitled to your opinion
Posted by: HWfan | April 29, 2008 at 11:39 PM
As long as they hire someone from Florida it will be a much better decision than the one Plant City made.
Posted by: Spoto fan | April 30, 2008 at 08:37 AM
spoto loves coach cap we 2 and 0 baby we aint stoppin
Posted by: nario55 | September 06, 2008 at 01:31 AM
I miss Coach. He did lead our team to a victory
Posted by: | November 06, 2008 at 03:43 PM