Former Clearwater boys basketball coach Allen Carden said Wednesday he has applied to be the girls basketball coach at the school.
Carden, who stepped down from the boys program last month after four seasons, is one of 20 applicants so far for the girls’ job.
Clearwater athletic director Kathy Biddle said the position will be posted until June 17 and interviews will likely start next week. Biddle said Carden will get an interview.
The Tornadoes are looking for a coach to replace Tom Shaneyfelt, who left after 20 seasons to take over the boys program.
“I decided to throw my name out there and see what happens,” Carden said. “I’ve looked at a couple of other opportunities, too.”
Carden said he inquired about returning to Pinellas Park, where he previously coached the boys team before taking over at Clearwater. But Carden said he never officially applied for the boys position with the Patriots, who hired Nick Miller two weeks ago.
Carden has coached all three of his sons in high school: Cam at Pinellas Park, and Cory and Cody at Clearwater. Carden’s daughter, Colby, will be an eighth grader at Oak Grove Middle in the fall.
For the past few years, Carden also has coached the St. Paul Stars, a boys team comprised of middle-schoolers.
“I feel like I left the boys program at Clearwater under good terms with the administration,” Carden said. “I endorsed Tom for the job and will try to help in any way to succeed.
"Right now, I’m just looking to see what’s out there. Maybe I’ll coach girls basketball or maybe a job will open up in another state. But I know I’ll always be involved in basketball in some way.”