TAMPA – Freedom athletic director Elijah Thomas confirmed Friday, Patriots baseball coach Donnie Oliver will not be the team’s head coach next season. Thomas said under the Fair Labor Act, hourly employees will no longer be able to serve in paid coaching roles.
Oliver is a teacher’s assistant at Freedom and is an hourly employee.
Thomas said the ruling happened in the middle of last year so Oliver was able to coach the season out, but said this decision was expected. Oliver’s name was included on a list of coaches Thomas said is submitted to the county each year and he was informed Oliver would not be allowed to stay on as the Patriots head coach.
Oliver has been Freedom’s coach for the past three seasons with the Patriots going 11-12 last season.
“Donnie is a good person and a great coach,” Thomas said. “He loves coaching baseball and truly cares about his kids.”