In their own words: Macaluso supporters share stories

Interviews by Jarrett Guthrie, Editor

Fifty years of coaching tells a story of dedication and commitment that few people could possibly understand in full. The hours, the sacrifice, the time. But it’s an endeavor that also requires a legion of support. Through his half-century as the head baseball coach at King High School Jim Macaluso has been blessed to collect some amazing people along the way.

Don’t forget: Tonight at King High, 7pm, will be Coach Jim Macaluso’s final regular season game of his 50 year coaching career as the Lions host Brandon High. There will be a pregame ceremony beginning at 6:50 with special guest speakers. King High School and the Macaluso Family invite all former students and Lions players and their families to attend.

My initial thought was to try and collect a few sentences from some of the people who have been drawn into the King program throughout the years, some just for the two-to-four years their son wore the uniform, others for that time and years afterwards.

An anecdote here, a quote there – I could make a good story work.

But then, Marjorie Terp texted.

If there is a Team Mom Hall of Fame, Mrs. Terp is first-ballot all darn day.

A King alum, who like so many, learned to drive (and run errands) under Macaluso’s driver’s education tutelage, to a Mom of three King students – daughter Margie, and former Lions players Bubby and Danny – Mrs. Terp has been a force of fundraising ferocity. A special-event planning machine. A last-minute-detail-fixing magician. A camerawoman. An organizer. A shoulder to cry on. And all with a beaming smile and positive energy she offers freely to a man she’s known and a school she’s loved nearly her whole life.

I could throw in two Marjorie Terp quotes and tell you why her, and many others have spent decades committed to not just the school, but the man who has meant so much to them, but I thought, wouldn’t you rather hear it from them?

In their own words, here is a collection of Coach Mac’s inner-circle, who have helped him and King baseball succeed without every throwing a pitch or taking a swing at the plate.

Marjorie Terp, King High Class of 1984

Mother of three King High alums, including two former Lions players

“When I was JV cheerleader he would get us to volunteer at the baseball carwashes to hold signs, and when we were seniors he asked if we would help with registration for (a Fellowship of Christian Athletes) registration, and I had been involved in volunteering with clubs … but I never understood the background of how those things existed and got put together. So, being at that dinner and seeing how those things came together, and the time so many people had to put in was such an eye-opener for me. You go to a club meeting, and the events, but learning how many people in the community gave their time and money to make sure the students had these opportunities was really something for me … With Coach Mac with kids, he was always in the halls with every student, meeting with teachers, meeting with parents so much more beyond baseball. He made such a difference for everyone at the school, not just players. I feel very honored that he let me be a part of all of it.”

 

Marjorie Terp with her youngest son, Danny, after King’s 2018 Saladino Tournament championship win.

“One of the best things about Coach Mac is he shows the players what to do off the field without telling you what to do. For example, having kids volunteer to do things but not necessarily telling them the ins and outs. You just follow his example and learn. He would have the boys volunteer at Reading for Temple Terrace and go to church once a season. He always took time to appreciate people and donors who did things for the team. Having the boys shake their hands and telling them thank you. Which, I know, seems like a normal thing to do but a lot of kids don’t do it anymore. He did do one thing that was really, really special for my family. My mom used to come to the games and was a huge baseball fan. He always took time to say hello and talk to her. When my dad passed away, she was pretty stoic throughout the whole thing. The very first time I saw her cry was when at the service she turned around and the entire baseball team was walking down the middle aisle of the church. She was amazed every single player and coach was there. I remember telling them all how much it meant to me and one of them said, ‘Coach told us it’s the right thing to do support you, your mom, Bubby and your family.’ Hopefully, that’s something they’ll continue to do for people in their lives from here on out.”

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Barrett Zebos, Retired King High Media Specialist

All-County boys and girls golf Coach of the Year & former baseball announcer

I’m occasionally lucky enough to run into Coach Zebos at live music events around town – he’s always got some King blue on, though.

“As a Coach, one thing I did steal from him was how to do his end of year banquet. He always made sure to recognize the parents who helped with the season. I would be sure to do that also. Baseball parents are used to doing a lot, and getting some recognition but golf parents weren’t. So, I tried to thank them for doing things for our program, and I had some great parents. Also, Jim loved to remember stories from the season to tell about the players receiving awards. I loved that and would make notes about my players during the season, so that at the banquet I could bring each player up and tell something interesting or fun that occurred at matches that parents may or may not have known about their player. Jim also could remember things that really made that player feel special and make their parents feel proud. I copied that from Coach Mac.”

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Les Parker, King High Class of 1966 (w/ Macaluso)

Retired MLB scout for 35 years (Cincinnati Red, Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, New York Mets)

“We met at King and I don’t think I ever had a class with him. But I met him early on in high school, we became friends probably because I played basketball and he ran track and we had shared friends. Jimmy is just a great guy, I don’t know of anyone who has ever know him who doesn’t like him. He has a good heart. Even though he didn’t play baseball in high school, he was very talented in track. His nickname was ‘Flash,’ we all called him that.”

 

“But I think with baseball, he just loved the game. He found out early on he understood the game, and he stuck with it and it grew into a passion. When you enjoy what you’re doing, you’re making a difference with kids, and you have a platform to give back we have to take that opportunity. And Jimmy has done that. He’s done it for his whole career, it kept going and it has been recognizable to everyone. All the scouts, all his colleagues – Frank Permuy, Pop Cuesta – all those guy who were around for a long, long time, they all loved Mac. They know what he’s done for the game, know what he’s done for the kids. It’s truly remarkable.”

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Jimmy Ciaccio, King High Class of 1984

Temple Terrace business leader & owner of Gaspar’s Patio Bar & Grille

Jimmy Ciaccio, a King alum and longtime Lions baseball booster working hard helping to feed the more than 200 people at the field naming ceremony for Jim Macaluso Field in 2022.

“Coach Macaluso was my driver’s ed teacher and his family has known mine for many, many years. We always joke that when you went driving with Coach Mac you went to the dry cleaners, picked up something from the store, you were learning, sure, but really you were his personal chauffer. That’s life experience. But what that guy has done for us … it’s why I love helping him however I can. Putting my energy into him and King’s (baseball) program because of what he has done for the kids of Temple Terrace, is my absolute pleasure. Because of everything he has done for the kids, that to me – and I’m a King High School guy – Coach Mac, his son Anthony, those are good guys, so I’m thrilled I can do anything for them and those players … They put their hearts in there every day. They certainly aren’t doing it for the money.”

 

Face-time with the man of the hour was tough to come by on field dedication day, so Jimmy and I had to settle for this group “selfie” with Coach Mac!

“I’ve always looked up to Coach Mac. He reminds me of family. He’s a Tampa man. When you’re young, Coach Macaluso, the baseball coach, of course you look up to that. The way he carries himself, you want to be around someone like that. You want to be around winners and that’s exactly what he is and has been for 50 years. For what he’s done, for the tons of people whose lives he’s touched, how can you not gravitate to that? We need people like us. We all need to do a little part, that’s what makes it all happen. I’m so grateful I get to be a part of this life with a guy like Coach Mac.”