Retirement Hasn’t Ended Coach English’s Career

He might be one of the most popular locals on Facebook.

After more than 30 years of teaching and coaching students, it really shouldn’t come as a surprise that Jerry English has quite a following. More than 700 people have “friended” him to see what their favorite educator and football and softball coach has been up to since retiring in 2003.

Ask English, 75, what he’s been up to, and you’ll need a notebook to keep up.

Shortly after retiring from , English was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He fought that battle only to find himself facing a double knee replacement in 2005.

Not one to be kept down for long, English rebounded from both medical issues to land on his feet.

Last year, English received a phone call from longtime friend and fellow football coach John Castelamare. It seemed that Castelamare had also retired from his head football coaching position at Wesley Chapel High School and just wasn’t ready to slow down. Instead of taking it easy, he took a post at Academy at the Lakes coaching football players.

Castelamare wanted his old friend by his side as an assistant coach.

English’s wife, Barbara, who retired as a principal in Hillsborough County when English said goodbye to Land O’ Lakes High, thought it was a great idea.

English said yes, and he’s been an assistant coach ever since.

"Since I still have to work, I said 'I need you to come over here (and help),' " Castelamare joked. " Jerry's wife said I don't want him around the house."

In all seriousness, Castelamare said he and English have about 80 years of coaching experience combined and make a good team.

"The kids love him," he said. "He just does a great job with the kids."

When he’s not busy guiding the Academy’s team, English spends his spare time with family and also likes to take part in World War II reenactments, bringing along his fully restored 1943 Jeep. English served in the Army in the 1960s.

English, 75, began his career at Sanders Memorial Elementary School as a physical education teacher. He spent about nine years there, moving up the ranks to become assistant principal. He then transferred to Land O’ Lakes High School and spent 27 years there before retiring in 2003. His transfer to Land O’ Lakes came through in 1976 — the year after the school opened. That meant he was able to work with some students from kindergarten all the way through high school graduation.

During his tenure at Land O’ Lakes High, he taught social studies and coached football and softball.

English witnessed a lot of changes in Land O’ Lakes during his teaching career. He began at Sanders when the school only housed 300 students. Within three years it had more than 2,100 and was on double sessions.

While there were ups and downs, English said he wouldn’t have missed a minute of it.

“I enjoyed it,” he said. “Something new happened every day. That kept me young.”

Editor’s note: Jerry English was my world history teacher at Land O’ Lakes High School and one of my inspirations for becoming a journalist. His passion for telling a great story continues to inspire me today.