Boca Ciega’s Randy Shuman, currently the longest tenured boys basketball coach in Pinellas County, can get his 500th career win with the Pirates on Tuesday night against Gibbs.
“I’m not really a numbers guy, so I had no idea I was that close until someone mentioned a few weeks ago,” Shuman said.
Shuman has 528 career wins as a head coach. He spent two seasons in West Virginia before coming to Boca Ciega as a junior varsity coach. In 1989, Shuman took over the varsity program.
In 25 seasons, Shuman has guided Boca Ciega to 14 playoff appearances, including a state title in 1994 and a final four appearance in 2002.
The Pirates (3-3) are going through growing pains after losing every starter from last season, including Dallas Moore, the Times all-county player of the year who currently is a starter at North Florida.
“We’re going through some ups and downs,” Shuman said. “That’s expected. Beating Gibbs would be awfully tough. But I’m surprised at where we are right now.”