Gulf spent almost two months looking for its next head football coach before finding him nine miles south.
The Buccaneers hired East Lake assistant Jason Messamore as head coach, Gulf athletic director Travis DeWalt said Tuesday evening. The school chose Messamore over Chamberlain’s Ken Davis and Clearwater’s Mike Lube after conducting a second round of interviews late last week.
“All three were outstanding candidates,” DeWalt said in a text message. “In the end the committee felt strongly that Jason was the best fit for Gulf High School.”
As the school’s fourth head coach in the last five seasons, Messamore inherits a rebuilding job. His new program has won eight games over the last three seasons and has been one of the schools most affected by the openings of Fivay and Anclote – young playoff qualifiers who have become two of the top teams in west Pasco County.
He replaces Tom Carter, who compiled a 2-18 record in two seasons and departed as head coach in November.
Messamore served as an assistant at Clearwater Central Catholic before jumping to East Lake, where he helped the Eagles advance to the Class 8A region finals each of the last two seasons.
“He’s a good guy,” East Lake head coach Bob Hudson said. “I’m gonna miss him.”
Messamore could not immediately be reached for comment.
For some background on Messamore, check out this Timesfeature on him from 2010.