When Osceola needed to fill one of Central Florida’s premiere head football coaching jobs, they did not have to look past their own practice field to do it. On Friday afternoon, just hours before the team’s spring game, Athletic Director Jim Bird announced that long-time assistant Eric Pinellas would become the school’s next head football coach.
Pinellas replaces legendary head coach Doug Nichols, who stepped down earlier this spring after almost 30 years at the school – including the last 11 as head coach. Under Nichols, the Kowboys went 111-23 and played in three state championship games.
“Eric has always bled blue and gold,” Bird said in making the announcement. “He absolutely convinced our six-member selection committee that he was the right man for the job. He knows the system, he knows our kids, and he knows about our culture and expectations. I believe this will be a seamless and successful transition. It is a great hire for Osceola High School and our football program.”
Pinellas said that the opportunity was a dream come true, although he did not expect the opportunity to necessarily come this fast. “Doug has been hinting for a couple of years that he wasn’t sure how much longer he wanted to coach, but when he made the announcement a couple of weeks ago, it came as a little bit of a shock. I knew that I always wanted to be a head football coach at some point, I just wasn’t sure this opportunity would come this quickly.”
Pinellas has a long history at the school. He was a four-year starter at running back for the Kowboys from 1986-89. He would go on to play college football at Georgia Military, where a knee injury ended his playing career. He would transfer to UCF, where he earned a degree in criminal justice.
He would return to Osceola High School in 2000, where he coached linebackers for the junior varsity football team. Pinellas has been with the Kowboys ever since working his way up to become one of Nichols’ top assistants.
In addition to his football duties, Pinellas has been the head track and field coach at Osceola for a number of years, a role that he believes will help him in his new position. “As a head coach of another sport, you have the same responsibilities even if it is on a smaller scale; I think being a head coach of the track team has given me a lot of experience, especially on the administrative end of things.”
Pinellas noted that he had no intention of making any noticeable changes. “Coach Nichols ran a great program and I learned so much from him as far as the other things that a head coach needs to deal with at a program like Osceola; especially when it comes to other things like dealing with the booster club, equipment, practice schedules and transportation;” he said. “When I interviewed with the committee, I made it clear that this is not a program that is in need of a lot of changes. We are going to change very little in terms of our operations.”
Pinellas went on to say that he appreciated the support that Nichols and the other Osceola assistant coaches have provided. “When Doug stepped down, I sort of assumed the head coaching duties without the interim title. The other assistants were so helpful with making sure things kept moving smoothly. That couldn’t have happened without them. The good thing is my class room is right next to Doug’s and I know he’ll be there to advise when I need it.”
