Zephyrhills hires ex-Pasco baseball coach Ricky Giles

 

 

 

    By Ryan Bass, Bright House Sports Network          Last Updated: Thursday, June 06, 2013, 1:45 PM                      

Share on facebook                 Share on twitter                 Share on google                 Share on email                 More Sharing Services                 1            

 

            
               

 

 

PINELLAS PARK -- 

Ricky Giles is back on the diamond.

The former Pasco baseball coach has been hired by his alma mater, Zephyrhills, to take over their baseball program, athletic director Bruce Cimorelli confirmed to BHSN.

Giles interviewed last Monday, and was told he got the job Thursday morning.

"He was all excited, like a kid on Christmas day," Cimorelli said. "He\'s eager to get back to coaching."

Giles coached at Pasco for 17 years, including leading the Pirates to the 4A state championship game in 1997. He resigned from Pasco last year for personal reasons, although there were allegations that he threatened to punch a player. Despite the shaky exit, Cimorelli is happy to welcome back Giles to the dugout.

"We\'re trying to bring the community back here and get them to come to games," Cimorelli said. "We\'re trying to get everything back, and Ricky knows everybody."

Giles\' roots run deep at Zephyrhills. His son, Reggie Roberts, is the head coach of the Bulldogs’ football team. He reacted on twitter after his father was hired Thursday morning.

As for Cimorelli, he knows just how good a coach Giles is first hand. He coached against him, and said that helped assure him that Giles was the right man for the job.

"When I coached against him, we had a good rivalry and stuff," he said. "We always mentored our program against Pasco\'s program. We knew that if we could beat them, we were right up there with the best of them...Ricky had his kids well prepared and he coached them very well. We\'re excited to have him here."