Gattuso Called Home; Coaches At Indian Rocks

Earlier this century, Gabby Gattuso was one of the top girls basketball players in the Tampa Bay area, if not the state. She became all-time leading scorer when she played her last game in 2005 with 2,633 points.

She later played at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg and transferred to Fairmont State where she finished her college days and later played professionally in Portugal.

With the world seemingly at her feet, like a gravitational pull, Gattuso has found herself back on a familiar hardcourt at Indian Rocks Christian.

Gattuso is now an assistant coach to her high school coach Phil Farver with the Golden Eagles girls basketball squad.

"Yes, absolutely it's like a calling," Gattuso said.

After getting a communications degree and dabbling in radio and journalism, hoping to land a job in TV, Gattuso decided to substitute teach at Indian Rocks Christian in order to make a few extra bucks.

Suddenly, her career goals have changed. For the first time she can remember, this is the first winter Gattuso is not playing organized basketball. Almost lost without hoops, she found stability going back to familiar hardwood.

"I'm not playing any more and I wanted to be part of it and I love this program," Gattuso said just prior to a Golden Eagles practice. "I love the girls and I love coach Farver and I always felt home here. It's always welcoming, just to be back and helping the girls and teaching the girls, I think I find this rewarding."

Still wired for playing the game, Gattuso admits she finds it hard to sit on the bench and watch a game.

Coaching may be in Gattuso's genes. Her father, John, briefly played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and also coached Gabby in grade school and was an assistant coach on the Golden Eagles football squad at one point as well as teaching science.

Now, his daughter plans to follow in his footsteps as a teacher at Indian Rocks as well.

"Ever since I started substitute teaching, I was like, 'Wow, I love this,' Gattuso said. "The spark was there. It's funny. You go to school to figure out what you want to do, and you don't realize what you want to do until afterwards."

Farver was only too happy to add Gattuso to his staff.

"She gives me a woman presence [on the staff] that I haven't had," Farver said. "She can talk with the girls about girl's things. She's in charge of the locker room stuff and she can be part of the girls. She can bridge the gap between me and the young girls. Hey, she played college and pro ball. Who is not going to use that expertise?

"First and foremost, she is a sweet girl. I've had her since the ninth grade. She's like my own daughter. She has a great personality and knows her hoops. Second, she played in this program. She gives instant credibility. 'Look, she played for me. Look how she turned out.' People say that you can't play at a small school and succeed. Gabby brings validation that you can."