Gulf’s Fulmer resignation upheld

Posted Aug 23, 2010 by Rick Harmon, Eddie Daniels

Updated Aug 24, 2010 at 05:15 PM

Jay Fulmer’s 5-year tenure as Gulf head football coach officially came to an end Tuesday when Superintendent Heather Fiorentino upheld Fulmer’s resignation he tendered Monday morning.

Fulmer, 43, resigned following an investigation by county athletic director Phil Bell into alleged illegal recruiting violations in the Buccaneers football program.

The Gulf football program recently came under scrutiny for the transfers of Ty’Shon Peters and Kris Aratchiysky from Anclote High to Gulf. The program has also been investigated for improper player contact.

“I believe my resignation is the best thing that could happen to Gulf High School,” Fulmer said by telephone Tuesday. “There is two kids’ eligibility that is under question and if the district feels my resignation and self-reporting and this form of discipline is going to give these kids an opportunity to play then I’m OK with that.”

Peters, a junior, was the Buccaneers quarterback in five games last year, completing 21-of-34 passes for 365 yards. He transferred to Anclote for the second semester of the 2009-10 school year, but returned to Gulf for the beginning of this school year.

Aratchiysky, a senior, was the starting fullback at Anclote for its inaugural season in 2009. He was at Mitchell prior to Anclote opening last year. Aratchiysky led the Sharks in rushing yards with 813 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Gulf principal Steve Knobl said Tuesday that the head coaching position has been posted on the county job line – as a supplement only. Fulmer is on paid administrative leave and has not been dismissed as a teacher.

“We just received a call allowing us to advertise the head football coaching position for three days – a short three-days –  which is normal at this juncture of the school year,” Knobl said. “We’ll see who applies. Right now, it’s a supplement only. I’ve been told to see who applies and conduct the interviews and when we get the person we think is the best fit, then we’ll see if we can get an instructional or non-instructional position.”

Fiorentino told Fulmer she planned to make a decision on where Fulmer will teach today. Fulmer is currently a physical education teacher at Gulf. Fiorentino will decide whether he stays at Gulf or is transferred to another school.

“I will do whatever (Fiorentino) wants me to do,” Fulmer said. “Sometimes when you make a mistake, whether it’s intended or not, you have to live with the consequences. If my resignation, in any way, is going to help advocate for these kids to be able to play, then I’m fine with it.”

Fulmer’s son, Will, is a sophomore at Gulf and is expected to be the starting quarterback Friday when the Buccaneers host Tarpon Springs in a Kickoff Classic game.

Knobl said the school will self-report the violations to the Florida High School Athletic Association, who will make a decision on any penalties to the student-athletes involved and to the school.

According to FHSAA media specialist Seth Polansky, they have received correspondence from Gulf High and the school district in regards to the investigation.

“At this time the Association will look into the documents received and proceed with the appropriate course of action,” Polansky said in an e-mail. “No official investigation has been opened (by the FHSAA).”

Gulf athletic director Travis DeWalt and assistant principal for athletics Doug Elias met with the current football staff Tuesday to plan a course of action until a head coach is hired.

“Right now, we’re kind of running (the team) by committee,” Knobl said. “(DeWalt and Elias) are going meet to set some roles during the transition – especially in the next week or so. It might be someone designated to talk to the press or someone to deal with the (game) officials. They all have a role – the program had established that. They know they are going to need to take some additional leadership on.”

Currently, six members of the coaching staff are supplement-only coaches. Knobl said the rest of the staff is intact.

“Travis is going to explain that we are not sure who’s going to apply for the opening,” Knobl said. “If we’re now 100 percent confident in an applicant and we need to involve the coaches in that process. We need to know whether we need to re-advertise the job or stay in the roles we’re in for the season and figure some things out when the season is over.”

Fulmer was hired in 2005, taking over the program from Keith Newton, who went 20-69 in nine seasons.

During Fulmer’s tenure, the Buccaneers went 31-22, earning the program’s first playoff berth in just his second season. His team fell one game shy of a playoff appearance during Fulmer’s first season at the helm.

The team’s best season came in 2008 when the Bucs went to the Class 3A region semifinals. That year they went 10-2, the school’s only 10-win season.

Fulmer, a native of Kentucky, coached two teams in Kentucky before coming to Florida. He coached Louisville Seneca High, from 1994-98, and coached Louisville Moore from 1999-2003. During those seasons, Fulmer amassed a 45-61 record, four state playoff berths and two state rankings. In his second season at Louisville Seneca High, he led the program to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in 19 seasons.

At Louisville Moore, Fulmer led a program that had gone 5-55 over the previous six seasons to a 7-3 record his first year. The next season, the team went 7-4, reaching the state playoffs. He resigned in 2003 following an 0-4 start.

Jay Fulmer at Gulf
2009: 6-4
2008: 10-2*
2007: 4-6
2006: 6-5*
2005: 5-5
*- The only playoff seasons in Gulf football history