Paul Whittenburg, who led Hilliard soccer in a training profession that spanned parts of 5 a long time, died Thursday evening on the age of 72.
The information was introduced by the college’s booster group, the Pleasure of Hilliard Soccer Membership.
Main the Pink Flashes’ soccer squad from its early days within the mid-Seventies, he directed Hilliard throughout a 32-year tenure that included a number of stints. His 1984 return helped revitalize a program that had slumped to 2-27 throughout the earlier three seasons.
“Serving a few years as head coach, he turned many Hilliard athletes into males on the sector. A revered soccer coach and nice math trainer, he left an impression on numerous Hilliard alumni. His presence locally, whether or not in sports activities, in native eating places or in his church, can be vastly missed,” the membership stated in its announcement.
Born in Georgia, he performed soccer at Memphis State, the place he was listed at each working again and nostril guard underneath head coach Billy Murphy earlier than coming to Florida. At Hilliard, he helped construct a small-town college — his roster typically numbered 20 or fewer gamers — into a robust unit in soccer fundamentals and wins.
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Though the Nassau County college needed to wait till 1997 for its first district championship, the Pink Flashes have been amongst Northeast Florida’s constant packages from the mid-Eighties, at a time when solely district champions certified for Florida Excessive College Athletic Affiliation playoffs. Throughout a lot of his tenure, Hilliard occupied the identical district as state juggernaut Christian College.
Amongst his famous seasons have been 1985, when Hilliard went 9-1 however missed the playoffs in a three-way tiebreaker to Hawthorne and Trinity Christian; 1992, when Hilliard’s wishbone offense went 9-1 and racked up a Florida-record 5,151 speeding yards; and 1997, when the Pink Flashes reached the second playoff spherical earlier than shedding to Tallahassee North Florida Christian.
He concluded his residence head teaching tenure amid celebrations on Nov. 8, 2012 with a 21-12 win towards Eagle’s View, ending with a profession document of 200-133. Along with his Hilliard years, his profession included assistant roles at Dunnellon and Charlton County in addition to a 1983 season as head coach at Fernandina Seashore.
Mr. Whittenburg additionally held varied administrative positions at Hilliard, together with dean of scholars. He’s survived by three youngsters and 9 grandchildren.
A reception is deliberate from 6 pm to eight pm Tuesday at First Baptist Church of Hilliard. Funeral providers are scheduled for 11 am Wednesday on the similar location, with burial in Brickyard Cemetery.
This text initially appeared on Florida Occasions-Union: Paul Whittenburg, longtime Hilliard-Center Senior soccer coach, dies
