Our Head Football Coach:
Bill 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--playing running back and defensive back.

He received 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 an Honorable Mention as defensive back for two years.  He started 36 straight games before being called to six months of active duty with the National Guard in the middle of his senior year.   Returning to college, he graduated in 1970 with a B. S. Degree in Physical Education and Health.

While at Tennessee Tech, he met Paul Quinn who offered him a coaching job at Columbia High School in Lake City, Florida.  His responsibility was coaching the defensive backs.

When Paul Quinn came to Lakeland High School in 1971, Coach Castle became one of his assistant coaches.  He received a Masters Degree in Health and Physical Education from Tennessee Tech in 1973.

Bill Castle assumed the reign of Head Coach for the fall 1976 football season.

1979-- 11-2 District VI, Region III, Section II Champions--State Semifinalist
1980-- 9-2 District VI Champions
1982-- 10-3 City Champions District VI, Region III,            Section II Champions
1983-- 9-3 City Champions, District V, Region III Champ
1984-- 10-3 City Champs, District V, Region II, Section II Champs, Semifinalist
1985-- 7-4 City Champs, Lymon Rotary Bowl
1986-- 13-1 City Champs, District V, Region III, Section II Champs--Florida State 5A Champions
1987-- 8-2 City Champions, District V Sudden Death
          Playoff
1988-- 8-3 Lakeland Rotary Bowl Champions
1989-- 7-3 City Champions
1990-- 6-4
1991-- 8-2 City Champions
1992-- 7-3
1993-- 11-0 Undefeated Regular Season, City Champs,  District VII Champions
1994-- 9-2 City Champions, District VII Champs
1995-- 9-4 District Champions
1996-- 16-0 Florida State 5-A Champions, Ranked 16th Nationally
1997-- 13-1 City Champs, District Champs, State Quarter Finals
1998-- 14-1 City champs - District Champs - State Semifinalist
1998--Florida Coach of the Year for all classes
1999--15-0 Florida State 5-A Champions, Ranked
6th Nationally

Coach Castle received the Ledger "Coach of the Year" for 1979, 1982, 1984, and 1986.  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.  He was named Assistant Coach for the Georgia-Florida All Star Football Game that was held in Orlando in June of 1989.  Bill is married to Shelly and is the proud father of William Blair Castle.

Lakeland Football 2004
Varsity Schedule   

      *District game  Kick off is 7:30pm                 Dreadnaught score in Orange