Longtime sports writer, coach and now teacher Mike Zelazo sometimes remarks to himself, "They even pay me to do this job!"
By TERRY JONES
Published September 3, 2004
RIVERVIEW - Mike Zelazo loves sports. He sings at baseball and softball games, coaches track and, for more than a decade, he wrote about sports in eastern Hillsborough County.
He also loves the classroom, which led, a few years ago, to some difficult sacrifices for Zelazo and his lifestyle. While continuing to support his family with a full-time job and coaching community sports, he went back to college to earn his teaching certificate.
Now he is an English and journalism teacher at Riverview High School while remaining active in community youth sports.
Although Zelazo, 45, had only a high school diploma more than 20 years ago when he left Cleveland with his wife, Gloria, and moved to Central Florida, he worked hard to get a bachelor's degree in mass communications from the University of South Florida.
While attending college, he worked in the circulation department of a weekly newspaper. His wife helped with the family income as they began to raise a family.
In 1984, he landed a job with Media General in Sun City Center, eventually becoming the sports editor for the Brandon News and Carrollwood News, along with the Plant City Courier.
The three community newspapers published once a week, giving him time to participate in youth sports activities.
Zelazo helped keep score, coached Little League teams, announced at various games and even led the crowds in singing Take Me Out to the Ball Game.
"Sports has always been a big part of my life, even though the only high school sport I played was badminton," Zelazo said. "However, I was the team manager for several other high school sports. I really enjoyed my work as a sports editor so much, I would sometimes say to myself, "They even pay me to do this job!' "
His journalism work involved long hours, but he produced a quality product recognized by the Florida Press Association with 19 awards as an editor and sports writer. Included were two awards for humorous columns, three for design and the balance for sports stories.
In 1997, Zelazo recognized a void in the community for youth athletes.
There were programs for most sports, but very little for track and field. Zelazo's answer: help form the Seffner Track Club.
During his seven years with the club, several of his athletes have won individual state and national championships. Some have earned college scholarships.
The desire to teach intensified so, in 1999, he returned to USF.
In 2000, he completed enough courses to get a temporary teaching certificate and was hired at Tampa Bay Tech. In October 2000, he worked full time as a teacher, continued to write sports and took night courses at USF.
Now as part of the English department at Riverview, he teaches with the same enthusiasm he had as a sports writer.
Bob Heilmann, the principal at Riverview High School, remembers Zelazo from his sports writing days.
"I am a soccer referee, and it was in that capacity I first met Mike. I was impressed by his enthusiasm for sports and his community," Heilmann said. "He has been willing to teach any part of our English program. He has a kid's heart and puts the kids first."
Heilmann said Zelazo volunteered to help the Red Cross in overseeing people with special needs at the high school's shelter during Hurricane Charley.
"I would say he went close to 48 hours without sleep to be here and help out his community," Heilmann said.
Zelazo is now content with his life and lifestyle. He is a full-time teacher, he still coaches his youth track team and he assists the track coaches at Riverview, plus he has time for his family.
Every Saturday night, he and his wife bowl together.
"We have been part of the same bowling league for 20 years," he said. "I can't think of anything more I want to do with my life. I really enjoy it all. It is still amazing that I get paid to do something I enjoy so much."
