Anthony Macaluso to succeed father, named King HC
Anthony Macaluso has been hired as the next head baseball coach at King High. Macaluso, who has spent the last 23 seasons as an assistant coach, replaces his father, Jim, who retired earlier this month after 50 seasons as the Lions skipper.
By Jarrett Guthrie, Editor
TAMPA – Baseball is a game rich with tradition, and one of Hillsborough County’s longest will continue on next spring when a Macaluso leads King baseball onto the field for another year.
Last night, King High principal Dr. Gregory Basham made a surprise pop-in to the Lions end of season banquet to inform players and parents that Anthony Macaluso will take over the head coaching duties from his father, Jim, who retired earlier this month after 50 seasons.
“I’m excited for the new chapter in the program,” Anthony Macaluso said. “It’s an honor to be able to follow Dad, and all the stuff he did, the path he set, and the culture he set over the last 50 years.
“But it’s exciting to be able to be in charge, and maybe bring something else to that culture. Maybe change things or do them a little differently, but at the same time keeping to those traditions that obviously led to a lot of success.”
Macaluso, a 1997 King High alum, has been by his father’s side serving as an assistant coach for more than 23 years.
He said one day having the head coaching job was something he started to consider after a few years in as an assistant. He said with support and encouragement from his wife, Sharlene and daughter Presley, the decision to apply for the head coaching position was an opportunity that had started to mean more to him than he had realized.
“King is a special place; and it’s unique because who else can say they’ve had one family leading their program for 51 years?” he said. “It was something I just couldn’t walk away from. There is just too much tradition there, too many memories, and too many things that we have built – not just us, but all the coaches, the parents, the players, all the administration – I couldn’t walk away and leave it. I had to continue to help it grow.”
His father said he was overjoyed to learn of the news, and that the announcement at last night’s team banquet was one of the more special moments of the many celebrations throughout this year.
“I hope I said all the right things when I spoke last night,” Jim Macaluso said. “I was just so proud, and it was special with our principal announcing it in front the players and parents.”
Anthony Macaluso said he hopes both of the Lions’ other veteran assistant coaches, Marcos Causey (a King alum and 14-year assistant coach) and Justin Messenger, will join him again next season.
“I put pressure on (Marcos) last night,” he joked. “One of the things I said in the few minutes I spoke (after the announcement), I told him I needed him and looked at our other assistant, Justin Messenger, and told him I need him. I hope they both stick around because they’ve been a big help to me and Dad – to have them there to help me in this transition would be huge. I hope they say ‘yes.’”
And as for his father, Anthony said he doesn’t expect him to be too hard to find.
“I don’t think he’s gonna be too far away,” he said with a chuckle. “I know he’s always said he’s not going to be the old coach who shows up to every practice, but I hope he does. I hope he’s never is too far away.”
Now Jim Macaluso gets to trade his No. 1 King jersey for the No. 1 fan spot, and couldn’t be more excited.
“I kind of wish there was a game tomorrow,” he said, “so I could be right there cheering for him.”
