WEEKI WACHEE — The coaching carousel that has gone on throughout Hernando County since Bill Vonada stepped down from being Hernando High School’s head coach has been active and fluid.
Since Vonada penned a letter citing that coaching high school football in this day in age is much different to the past yesteryears, Hernando has since tabbed former assistant Rob ‘Kaz’ Kazmier as the school’s next in line as the new lead man. Now a local rival has added to its coaching staff and the name who joined comes as a big surprise to most in Hernando County.
Weeki Wachee principal Troy LaBarbara announced in an email that the school has named Vonada as the new athletic director and also as a coach, but the email did not specify what sport the former Hernando head coach would be coaching. Early signs would obviously point towards helping out with the football program, as Vonada has quite a bit of expertise in that respective area.
Vonada was Hernando’s 30th head coach in program history and is coming off a 2017 season in which he led the Leopards to a district championship and nearly pulled off an upset in the Class 5A-Region 2 quarterfinal against Green Cove Springs Clay. During his time at Hernando, Vonada compiled an overall record of 17-21.
Most of Vonada’s best work as a head coach came during his tenure at Springstead High School, where he led the Eagles to numerous district titles and postseason appearances.
In other prep coaching moves in Hernando County high school football, Kazmier and Hernando have wasted no time in bolstering the coaching staff and announced the additions of former Weeki Wachee head coach Mark Lee and former Nature Coast Technical assistant Pete Ruiz. Lee was also formerly the athletic director at Weeki Wachee before being replaced by Vonada.
Lee was the head coach at Nature Coast for one season in 2009, leading the Sharks to the playoffs but was not brought back. During his time at Weeki Wachee, Lee compiled an overall record of 11-39 and his best season came in 2015 when he guided the Hornets to a record of 4-6. With the newest additions made to Kazmier’s staff, the Leopards are not looking to take any steps back from 2017’s successful campaign.
Andy Villamarzo can be reached at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @avillamarzo.
