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Hernando Today

NCT: Shepard Out; Frascatore In

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: June 17, 2008

Bob Shepard led Nature Coast Technical to 21 wins and the first regional playoff victory in program history, accomplishments good enough to make him the county's Coach of the Year.

Apparently, though, not good enough to keep his job. The school has officially replaced Shepard as head coach after just one season in favor of former Major League pitcher John Frascatore.

"It's pretty much due to Bob Shepard not being a teacher at our school or in the county," Nature Coast Athletic Director Travis Lamle said. "If a teacher wants a position, they get first dibs.

"Bob did a great job all year long. We got as far as we ever did before. It's just a contract issue with the union."

Shepard, an assistant at Nature Coast the previous three seasons before taking over as headman, works as a painter for the school board. Frascatore is currently a teacher at Nature Coast.

Hernando Classroom Teachers' Association President Joe Vitalo confirmed that all supplemental positions are under review every single year.

According Vitalo, the union contract states: "When all qualifications are equal, a bargaining union member shall be given preference."

However, there is no mandatory rule that a teacher must receive a position in favor of a non-teacher, allowing flexibility for the administration to make a selection.

At Hernando High, Donnie Whitehead has served as head coach the past two years, following the 13-year tenure of Tim Sims. Neither is a teacher, nor works for the school board in any capacity.

Shepard declined comment on the situation. He took over the position for Dan Garofano at the beginning of the school year, after original hire David Brown backed out at the last minute.

Handed a team that went 20-8 and reached regionals for the first time in 2007, Shepard guided the Sharks to a 21-7 mark and a 5-3 win over Harmony in the regional quarterfinals.

"I had a great time at Nature Coast," said Shepard, who indicated he would like to find another head coaching position. "It was a lot of hard work. It's not easy to build a program. It's a year-round commitment.

"But it was rewarding to see all the hard work and see that the advancement of the team got better each and every year."

Frascatore could not be reached for comment. Though this marks his first prep head coaching job, he comes with credentials as a player.

From 1994-2001, he spent time with the St. Louis Cardinals, Arizona Diamondbacks and Toronto Blue Jays almost exclusively as a relief pitcher.

The 38-year-old appeared in 274 games over his Major League career, going 20-17 with a 4.00 earned run average and one career save.

"Quite obviously he played in the majors," Lamle said. "He brings a lot to the table, whenever it comes to further developing some of the kids, especially with pitching. Right away everyone knows he knows what he's talking about."

BY THE NUMBERS: JOHN FRASCATORE
Year Team GP IP H R ER BB K W L ERA
1994 St. Louis 01 03.1 07 06 06 02 02 00 01 16.20
1995 St. Louis 14 32.2 39 19 16 16 21 01 01 4.41
1997 St. Louis 59 80.0 74 25 22 33 58 05 02 2.48
1998 St. Louis 69 95.2 95 48 44 36 49 03 04 4.14
1999 Arizona 26 33.0 31 16 15 12 15 01 04 4.09
1999 Toronto 33 37.0 42 16 14 09 22 07 01 3.41
2000 Toronto 60 73.0 87 51 44 33 30 02 04 5.42
2001 Toronto 12 16.1 16 04 04 04 09 02 01 2.20
TOTALS 274 371.0 391 185 165 145 206 20 17 4.00

Sports writer Chris Bernhardt Jr. can be reached at (352) 544-5288 or cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com.

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