Bill Castle Head Coach - Lakeland High School Football Dreadnaughts

Bill Castle – HEAD COACH

ABOUT COACH CASTLE:

Bill Castle graduated from Hendersonville High School in Hendersonville, Tennessee, in 1965. During his high school career he lettered in basketball, track and football – He played running back and defensive back. He earned a football scholarship to Tennessee Technological University, the first athlete from Hendersonville to earn that honor. He was named to the All-Conference Team, with Honorable Mention, as a Defensive back, for 2 years. He started 36 straight games before being called to 6 months of active duty, with the National Guard, in the middle of his senior year. He returned to college and graduated in 1970 with a B.S. Degree in Physical Education and Health.

While at Tennessee Tech, Bill met Paul Quinn, who offered him a coaching job at Columbia High School, in Lake City, Florida. He was responsible for Defensive Backs. When Paul Quinn came to Lakeland High School in 1971, Coach Castle came with him, as an assistant coach. Bill received his Master’s Degree in Physical Education and Health from Tennessee Tech in 1973. Bill Castle became the Head Coach of Lakeland High School, in the fall of 1976, when Paul Quinn left for Bartow High School.

Bill Castle was lucky enough to marry, Shelley, on December 11, 1981, and is the proud father of William Blair Castle, past QB of the 2006 Dreadnaught Football State & National Championship Football team.

HONORS AND CAREER RECORD:

Coach Castle received the Lakeland Ledger “Coach of the Year” for 1979, 1982, 1984, 1986, and 2004. The Tampa Tribune honored him with “Coach of the Year” in 1984 and 1986. At the Southeastern Coaches Association meeting in Atlanta, he was given the Kodak 5-A Coach of the Year award for 1986. In 2004 he was named FHSAA 5A coach of the year. He was named Assistant Coach for the Georgia-Florida All Star Football Game that was held in Orlando in June of 1989. He was head coach of the Florida South Team All Stars at the North/South All Star Game held in Jacksonville in June 1997. Castle has been inducted into the Polk County Sports Hall of Fame and the FHSAA Hall of Fame. He was named the FHSAA Coach of the Century, in 2007.

First Win – Lake Wales @ Bryant Stadium 10 Sept. 1976 – 26-6
100th Win – Winter Haven @ Winter Haven 16 Sept. 1988 – 25-7
200th Win – Port Charlotte @ Bryant Stadium 20 Nov 1998 – 50-12
300th Win – Okeechobee @ Bryant Stadium 31 Aug. 2007 – 34-14

• 60 Game Win Streak-Started with Tampa Bay Tech @Tampa Bay Tech
• Oct. 6, 1995 – 41-7 (State Record) Stopped by Haines City @ Haines City
• 2-0 -Regular Season Games; 53 Game Win Streak-Started with Winter Haven Sept.3, 2004@ Bryant Stadium -48-0 (State • Record)
• 53rd Win against Ridge Community (2 ot)@ Bryant Stadium Oct. 26, 2007 – 22-19
• Streak stopped by Osceola @ Bryant Stadium Nov. 2, 2007 -25-21, 53 Straight Games