Lakeland HS football fans knew this day would come, but likely were wishing it didn’t have to.
Bill Castle has retired as Lakeland’s football coach after 47 years at the helm of one of the state’s best programs.
Castle said he made his decision Monday night and told the school Tuesday morning.
Castle retires as the winningest football coach in Florida history with 473 career wins.
This past season, Castle led the Dreadnaughts to a 14-0 record, their eighth state title and seventh title in an undefeated season. The only year Lakeland lost a game in a state championship season came in 1986, the first year the Dreadnaughts won a state title.
The eight titles, which came in ’86, ’96, ’99, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’18 and ’22, are the most in Florida from a public school.
Castle is a member of the Polk County Sports Hall of Fame, the FHSAA Hall of Fame and was selected the FHSAA Coach of the Century.