Gulf hires Messamore as head football coach

Posted Jan 22, 2013 by Andy Villamarzo

Updated Jan 22, 2013 at 07:43 PM

NEW PORT RICHEY—Former East Lake High assistant Jason Messamore was hired Tuesday as Gulf’s head football coach, Buccaneers athletic director Travis DeWalt said.

Messamore was one of three finalists for the position, including former University of South Florida player and grad assistant Michael Lube and Chamberlain assistant Ken Davis.

“All three had great second interviews,” DeWalt said. “It just all came down to that we thought Jason would be the right man for the job.”

Messamore inherits a tall task in taking over a Gulf program that has struggled the past two seasons. The Buccaneers were a combined 2-18 the last two years under former Land O’ Lakes assistant and former Gulf coach Tom Carter, who resigned last month. Messamore will be Gulf’s fourth coach in four years following Jay Fulmer (2005-2010), Kenneth Hollar (2010) and Carter (2011-2012).