Rick Casko’s second stint as Glades Central’s head football coach ended after three seasons, the school confirmed Tuesday.
Glades Central football coach Rick Casko (right) stepped down Monday after three seasons. He previously coached the Raiders from 1991-93. (2015 Post file photo)
Casko, who coached the Raiders from 1991-93, resigned three days after Glades Central lost in the Class 4A regional semifinals to four-time defending state champion Miami-Booker T. Washington.
The Raiders finished 6-5 this season, dropping their final three games. Casko was 25-11 overall in three seasons, and made the playoffs all three years.
He said Tuesday he was ready to take a step back from coaching after 31 seasons on the sidelines, including 27 as a head coach.
“I got worn down,” said Casko, who lives in Royal Palm Beach.
“My beliefs are faith, family, school, football. If I can’t get to couple’s meetings with my wife at church, I can’t get to it. My wife of 34 years has dealt with this for that long. It’s a 40-plus minute drive. If you add all that up, it’s really worn on me. It wasn’t an easy decision.”
“I appreciate coach Casko’s work ethic and genuine care of our students,” Principal Angela Moore said in a statement Tuesday. “Not only did he coach student-athletes, he made himself available to all students. I admire his willingness to mentor young men and women and his commitment to our school brand.”
Casko’s players said Tuesday he was a positive influence during their high school careers.
“He’s a phenomenal coach and always will be,” running back Demetrius Martin said. “I enjoyed him coaching me my last two years of high school. We will always have a great relationship.”
During his first stint with Glades Central, Casko went 34-4 and made the playoffs twice.
He decided to leave Glades Central after the Raiders lost to Lake Wales in the Class 3A state semifinals in 1993, giving up a 35-14 halftime lead. Former NFL star running back Fred Taylor was on that Raiders team.
Casko also coached at John I. Leonard and Atlantic, and spent 11 seasons coaching in Georgia before returning to Glades Central in 2014.
He will continue to teach at the school, and will take a role in the hiring process for the Raiders’ next coach if the school asks.
“I’ll help Glades Central in any way they need to be helped,” Casko said.
The new coach will be the seventh at Glades Central since 2000.
