We knew prep coaches didn’t make a lot of money, but this is a new low

Posted Nov 8, 2011 by Katherine Smith

Updated Nov 8, 2011 at 02:08 PM

Robinson head coach Mike DePue’s enjoyed the luxury of continuity with his coaching staff, as several of the core assistants have been together for years.

Now one will be working for free because of a Hillsborough County rule.
Gene Blalock, the Knights defensive line coach, recently got a job at Madison Middle School, but because the county has a specific condition about hourly employees, Blalock will no longer be able to collect his coaching supplement.

“I think it’s a travesty,’’ DePue said. “We are trying to help our young coaches and here is a young man trying to better himself to become a teacher and a coach and now he can’t receive a supplement. It just doesn’t make sense.’’

Only substitutes or full-time, salaried employees of Hillsborough County are eligible for coaching supplements. Hourly employees are not eligible.

Former Jefferson head coach Mike Fenton learned all about that county rule last season when he became an hourly employee and helped guide the Dragons to the school’s first state championship without receiving a coaching supplement.