TAMPA, Fla. — A simple walk into the Chamberlain High School dugout stirs up a lot of memories for former coach Bobby Diez.

Chamberlain’s all-time winningest softball coach spent a lot of time in this dugout. Diez literally left his mark at Chamberlain.

What You Need To Know

  •  Bobby Diez helped guide Chamberlain to nine Final Fours and won two state championships.

  •  The school named the softball field after Diez to honor the program he helped build.

  •  That field sits empty this season because Chamberlain didn't have enough players to field a team.

A lot has happened since Coach Diez retired from the sport in 2019. The Chiefs mascot that he proudly sports on his shirt is no more, replaced by a more politically correct mascot, the Storm. Another thing gone missing, Chamberlain’s entire softball program.

The irony that a field named after its most successful coach doesn’t have enough players to field a team this season makes Diez sad.

“Somebody should be on it exactly right,” Diez said.

The foul lines are there. The outfield has been mowed. The only thing missing are the players. Chamberlain’s fallen victim to school boundary lines that limits the amount of students attending the school. They aren’t the only school in Hillsborough County with shrinking numbers.

That a program as storied as Chamberlain High softball fell victim to the county’s numbers game, shows how big a problem it actually is. How good was Chamberlain?  

At one time one of the best in the state.

Under Diez, the softball team advanced to nine Final Fours and won two state championships. The memories of those special teams are still littered all over the press box walls.

For 28 seasons, Diez built something special here at Chamberlain. He always figured if you build it, they will come. Back then, they did. But now, they aren’t.

“It’s something that I’m so appreciative of,” Diez said. ”I backed into this job. Never expecting to coach girls and it was a God bless for me. I was blessed. It was fun. And the girls were outstanding. They were outstanding. Now it’s all quiet.”