Benton won’t return as Spoto baseball coach

Posted Oct 7, 2009 by Adam Adkins

Updated Oct 7, 2009 at 02:35 PM

Larry Benton will not return for a fourth season as Spoto’s baseball coach, Principal Clyde Trathowen confirmed Wednesday.

Benton was hired to start the Spartans program, which began play in 2007. He enjoyed his best season in 2009, when the Spartans posted their first winning record in program history at 13-11.

However, Benton was arrested in June on a misdemeanor charge of soliciting another to commit prostitution. He was suspended by the Hillsborough County School District shortly thereafter. Trathowen said Benton remains suspended from his teaching position without pay and is unsure when Benton’s case will be resolved, which ultimately prompted him to move in another direction as far as the baseball program.

“I don’t know when that issue will be resolved and as a result we have to move on with our baseball program for the best interest of our athletes,” Trathowen said via email.

Trathowen said he plans to begin interviewing candidates for the position next week. He added he’s received five applications thus far.