For personal reasons, Largo High School’s Head Football Coach Rick Rodriguez is stepping down from his position as coach after 14 successful seasons where he led the Largo Packers to 10 district championship titles.
One of the most successful high school football coaches in the county, Rodriguez will remain on the teaching staff at Largo High School where he has taught physical education, weight training and health for 14 years. Prior to teaching and coaching at Largo, Rodriguez taught physical education and was the assistant coach for football and head coach for track at Clearwater High School for 16 years.
“I am so proud of the players I’ve coached for 30 years in Pinellas County,” Rodriguez said. “Their dedication and commitment inspired me every day on the field. I’m happy to remain part of the Largo High community, a place rich in tradition. I appreciate the administrators who have been tremendous. Barbara Thornton, Glenn Koutney and Eric Allen took a chance on me and I am so grateful.”
Rodriguez informed the football team today.
“He said, ‘This has been a tough decision’, and then he started tearing up,” Raheem Harvey, a star wide receiver for the Packers who played for Rodriguez for four years, told Bright House Sports Network.
“He said he was sorry he had to do it, but he was stepping down.”
When asked what the mood was like after the announcement, Harvey was blunt.
“It was like there wasn’t any air in the room,“ he said. “We all thought it was just a regular meeting. We didn’t have any idea he was retiring.”
Largo High Principal Brad Finkbiner made an announcement during the school’s faculty meeting. Rodriguez is available for media interviews at the school today from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
A search for a new head coach at Largo High will begin in early 2014 with the goal of having the new coach in place ahead of spring practice.
“Looking back, I’m most proud of helping players get to college,” Rodriguez said. “Seeing kids graduate with a college degree – that’s my biggest accomplishment.”
*Press release provided by Pinellas County Schools