By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Although the tenure at his dream job was much shorter than he originally planned, former Osceola Kowboys basketball coach Steve Mason said he accomplished many of the goals he set when he took the job two years ago.

Mason, 40, announced his resignation last week in order to spend more time with his children, Jordan, 3, and Jaslyn, 1.

“The way we do it here, it’s a 10-and-a-half-month-a-year job,” Mason said. “It’s one of those things that you know what it’s going to be like when you take the job, but then you don’t know.”

Mason said he rarely had time to spend with his family between basketball and his job as a guidance counselor at OHS, which he will retain.

“Before we played Oviedo at the (Great Florida) Shootout, I was literally looking for a babysitter an hour and a half before the game,” he said. “It isn’t like you have two hours of practice and then call it a day. You have tapes to break down, or there is a study hall to run, or maybe you have to go and scout another game. It is something that goes on every day.”

Mason graduated from OHS in 1988 and has spent 17 of the past 19 years involved with the basketball program in some capacity, either as an assistant or as a head coach.

He twice was an interim head coach, in 1999 and in 2007, before applying for the job when Larry Brown stepped down in 2009.

“At that point, I was ready. They wanted me to take it back in the ‘90s, but I didn’t have the confidence to do it. I probably could have done it, but I wasn’t ready,” he said.

Under Mason, the Kowboys were 45-11 and won the 2010 5A District 5 championship. Osceola finished third at the 2009 Great Florida Shootout and went unbeaten during the regular season in 5A-5 while compiling a 22-3 record, one of the best in the program’s history.

Last season, the Kowboys were 23-8, won the Shootout consolation championship and beat Kathleen in a regional quarterfinal game at the Red Devil gym.

Four of Osceola’s losses came against Class 5A state finalist Lake Wales, which was ranked No. 6 among all Florida high schools.

Seven of the team’s eight losses came against state-ranked teams.

“I feel better about leaving now because we were able to accomplish a lot of goals I set for the program quickly,” Mason said. “We won a district championship and a playoff game, we did well at the Shootout and we won more than 20 games two years ago. What I wanted to do was to get the Osceola basketball program back into state prominence, where it belongs, and I think we’ve done that, thanks to some great kids and assistant coaches.”

Mason thanked Principal Gary Preisser and Athletic Director Jim Bird for the opportunity to coach the Kowboys.

“You couldn’t ask for better people to work for,” he said.

Osceola Athletic Director Jim Bird said he was surprised that Mason stepped down early in his head coaching career, but he understood the reason.

“Running a successful program like he has takes a lot of work and a lot of time. But, your family has to come first, especially when you have little kids like he has,” Bird said. “He’s still a big blue and gold guy, that isn’t going to change.”

Bird advertised the job Monday and is reviewing resumes. He plans to fill the position quickly, he said.

Mason said he will not coach in any capacity next season, but he will be a regular at the OHS gym.

“I’m going to take Jordan (named after Michael Jordan) to the games and sit in the stands and be a fan. Hopefully, I’ll start getting him ready to be a part of the next generation of basketball players here,” Mason said.

Mason said that he may resume his coaching career when his children are older.

“When they are old enough to come to the games, then maybe it’s something I’ll think about,” he said.

Two more Osceola County boys basketball coaches stepped down recently.

Poinciana’s Jay Lunce resigned to pursue a job in Georgia.

PHS Athletic Director Mal Harpell is holding interviews for that position.

Liberty Coach Anthony Crespo resigned to spend more time with his family.

Charger Athletic Director Danielle LaPointe said she  will soon begin the hiring process.