Gulf hires Schmit for two programs

By JAMAL THALJI

NEW PORT RICHEY -- Someone pinch Gulf athletic director Paul Girardi.

He was looking for a new boys cross country and track coach to lead the school's most hard-luck and sparsely-attended sports. Tom Cain, who led the boys track team to fourth in Class 2A, District 9, resigned after one of the best seasons in years.

Girardi got only one resume for both jobs. But what a resume: a former high school All-American runner at Countryside, a Big Ten champ and team captain at Minnesota and 12-year college coach.

And he wants to coach at the high school level.

He wants to coach at Gulf.

"So when this guy came available, we were happy to be getting somebody of his qualifications," Girardi said. "Ecstatic, as a matter of fact."

That's why Brian Schmit, 40, of Minnesota, is the Buccaneers' new boys cross country and track coach.

"I applied to seven schools in Pasco County, and at the top of my list was Gulf," Schmit said. "I was fortunate that things worked out with them. I had another offer but Gulf was a great. fit I certainly hoped to coach but what I really wanted was to teach at Gulf.

"Things just worked out for me to be able to coach, too."

Schmit, a 1982 Countryside graduate, held the nation's fastest high school mile time, 4 minutes, 10 seconds, for a month. The All-American went to Minnesota and won the Big Ten 1,000-meter title, and still holds the school record of 2:23.

Then he went into coaching. He started as a cross country and track coach in Minneapolis in 1987. Then he spent 1988-92 as an assistant track coach at South Florida. From 1992-93 he was head women's coach at Tennessee-Martin, and from 1993-98 he coached Concordia University at St. Paul, Minn.

Then Schmit went into real estate. "I had this crazy idea that I needed to make money," Schmit said, "so I started my own company. But time-wise I had to find a different focus. After I was in that for a little bit I realized that's not who I am, I'm a coach and a teacher."

Schmit sold his company and went back to college 18 months ago to get his certification as a social studies teacher, which he will be at Gulf. He got a strong recommendation from Gulf Middle School athletic director Jeff Koos, a close friend who told Schmit about the opening.

Schmit visited Gulf two months ago. His Minnesota home is now up for sale and he expects to move to the area soon with Marjorie, 40, daughter Christina, 18, and son Jacob, 7.

"It's a labor of love," Schmit said. "Again, it's what I do. I love to coach, love to be with kids, love to teach."