Coach David Lowe spent 36 years at Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School
WATCH: The Friday Night Locker Room’s Steve Wilson recently had the opportunity to sit down with long-time educator/coach David Lowe at the Space Coast Daily–Friday Night Locker Room Erdman Automotive Studios. Coach Lowe spent 42 years in the classroom, 36 of those at Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – My first encounter with Coach David Lowe was many years ago. In fact, it was so long ago that I can’t remember exactly when it was, although I’m pretty sure it was on a football field.
I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Coach Lowe at the Space Coast Daily–Friday Night Locker Room Erdman Automotive Studios in Cocoa. I felt like I was talking to a childhood friend I had not seen in years. He is just that type of person. When you first meet Coach Lowe, he becomes your friend.
He is now retired but spent over 40 years in education; 42 years teaching and 40 years coaching. I asked him if he knew at a young age that this was the career path he wanted. He said, “I knew for the longest time that this is what I wanted to do.”
During the interview, we talked about several things, including coaching, and he told me he always loved the fact that “every year, you started over.” Even though he missed his players when they graduated, he enjoyed working with the next new class. It was fun.
Coach Lowe had the unique opportunity to not only play for, but coach with, one of the all-time greats, Gerald Odom, who passed away this year at age 82. Coach Odom won multiple state titles at Merritt Island High School and is in multiple Halls of Fame, including the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.
I asked Coach Lowe if he learned anything from Coach Odom that he carried with him in life. He mentioned his dad at the outset, saying, “My biggest influence in coaching and life was my father. I just loved him to death.”
He spoke about the Merritt Island coaches that he played for, saying, “I learned so much about life and discipline, not just football, but how to act around people, character. I can never repay those guys.”
Although Coach Lowe is retired, and no longer roams the sidelines on Friday nights, he is still very active. He works hard, almost 12 months out of the year, on the Coach Lowe Classic Golf Tournament that has raised thousands of dollars over the years.
Coach David Lowe is truly one of the “good guys” in central Florida. He is a bright light. He is the kind of person that when you see him, it brings a smile to your face. When I saw Coach David Lowe walk into the studio for our interview, I smiled.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Steve Wilson was born in DeRidder, Louisiana and grew up in both New Orleans and Macon, Georgia. He moved to Brevard County in 1984 and retired from local government as the Community Advocate/Assistant to the City Manager with the City of Rockledge in 2018.
Among the awards and accolades Steve has received over the years are 15 + year Rockledge Little League volunteer, Brevard Public School Jefferson Award Recipient, Rockledge High School Raider Booster Award 2001, 2006, City of Rockledge Employee of the Year 2006, Rockledge Kiwanian of the Year 2006-2007, City of Rockledge Quality Public Service Award 2008, 2012, 2017, Rockledge Kiwanis Citizen of the Year 2012-2013, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Sportscasting 2015, Rockledge High School Leadership and Service Award 2016, Central Florida Humanitarian Award 2017, Space Coast Inspiration Award – 2018 and Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Lifetime Achievement – 2020.
Wilson is especially proud of is chairing two fundraisers in support of pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in honor of Merritt Island resident Julie Spurlock that raised over $25,000.00.
He has been a partner, along with Orville Susong, for the past 24 years with the Friday Night Locker Room, a broadcasting team that covers and reports on a wide variety of local events that are of significance to the residents of the Space Coast and beyond. Their mission is to promote youth sports, support first responders and law enforcement personnel, and showcase community and charitable events that are produced by our nonprofit partners in central Florida.
The Friday Night Locker Room has awarded hundreds of sports achievement plaques to Brevard County student-athletes over the years. They have also awarded more than $18,000 in academic scholarships to Brevard County high school seniors.
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