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 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.
Coach Castle received the 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 also been inducted into the Polk County Sports Hall of Fame and the FHSAA Hall of Fame. in 2007 He was named the FHSAA Coach of the century. Bill is married to Shelly and is the proud father of past Dreadnaught Football State and National Champion QB Blair Castle.
| As a Head Coach at Lakeland: |
| 1976 -- |
5-5 |
|
| 1977 -- |
5-5 |
|
| 1978 -- |
6-4 |
|
| 1979 -- |
11-2 |
District Champs / State Semi Finalist |
| 1980 -- |
9-2 |
District Champs |
| 1981 -- |
5-5 |
|
| 1982 -- |
10-3 |
City Champs / District Champs / State Sectional Finals |
| 1983 -- |
9-3 |
City Champs / District Champs / State Regional Finals |
| 1984 -- |
10-3 |
City Champs / District Champs / State Semi Finals |
| 1985 -- |
7-4 |
City Champs / Lymon Rotary Bowl |
| 1986 -- |
13-1 |
City Champs / District Champs / Florida State 5-A Champions |
| 1987 -- |
8-2 |
City Champs / District Sudden Death Playoff |
| 1988 -- |
8-3 |
Lakeland Rotary Bowl |
| 1989 -- |
7-3 |
City Champions |
| 1990 -- |
6-4 |
|
| 1991 -- |
8-2 |
City Champions |
| 1992 -- |
7-3 |
|
| 1993 -- |
10-1 |
Undefeated Regular Season / City Champs / District Champs |
| 1994 -- |
9-2 |
City Champs / District Champs |
| 1995 -- |
9-4 |
District Champions / State Regional Quarterfinals |
| 1996 -- |
15-0 |
Florida 5A State Champions / Ranked 16th Nationally |
| 1997 -- |
13-1 |
City Champs / District Champs / State Quarter Finals |
| 1998 -- |
14-1 |
City champs / District Champs / State Semifinalist |
| 1999 -- |
15-0 |
Florida State 5-A Champions / Ranked 6th Nationally |
| 2000 -- |
11-1 |
District Champs / Ranked 8th Nationally |
| 2001 -- |
9-2 |
District Champs |
| 2002 -- |
11-2 |
State Quarter Finals |
| 2003 -- |
6-4 |
State Regional Quarterfinals |
| 2004 -- |
15-0 |
Florida 5A State Champions / Ranked 18th Nationally |
| 2005 -- |
15-0 |
National Champions / Back to Back Florida 5A State Champions |
| 2006 -- |
15-0 |
National Champions / 3-Peat Florida 5A State Champions |
| 2007 -- |
10-2 |
State Regional Semifinalist |
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