Dale Castro
Encyclopedia
Dale Castro is an American former football player and coach. He played college football
at the University of Maryland as a record-setting placekicker
. He had originally intended to play college baseball, and joined the football team as a walk-on. He had a brief career in the Arena Football League, and then spent two decades coaching high school football
.
. He attended the University of Maryland
with the intention of earning a scholarship
as a baseball pitcher
, but contracted mononucleosis
during his first semester which caused him to miss the try-outs. After he recuperated, Castro decided to try out for the football team
as a walk-on placekicker
, a position he had played in high school. During his sophomore year, he was offered a scholarship. He joined another Maryland walk-on that season who gained national recognition, Charlie Wysocki, who was the nation's rushing leader in 1979.
In 1979, Castro tied the NCAA record for most field goals in a half, with four against . In the fourth quarter of that game, he made a fifth field goal. He set a then-NCAA record when he made his first 16 field goal attempts. In total, he made 17 field goals during the season. Castro was named a consensus first-team All-American
by the NCAA selectors: the Walter Camp Football Foundation
, United Press International
, Football Writers Association of America
, and The Sporting News
. He concluded his collegiate career in 1980, and as the end of 2008 season, he remains the school's fourth-ranked player in career punting yards (8,584), seventh-ranked in field goal percentage (69.2%), and tenth-ranked in career field goals (27).
after the 1981 pre-season, Castro had a tryout with the Seattle Seahawks
in 1982. In 1983, he played for the Washington Federals in the United States Football League
. He recorded three field goals on six attempts and two extra points on three attempts. He also played one season in the Arena Football League for the Washington Commandos
in 1987. That season, he made 12 field goals on 21 attempts and 16 extra points on 31 attempts.
From 1981 to 1986, he served as an assistant coach at Southern High School
in Anne Arundel County, Maryland
. From 1987 to 1989, he was the offensive coordinator
for DuVal High School
in Prince George's County, Maryland
. In 1990, Castro was hired as an assistant coach at High Point High School
. He served as High Point's head football coach for the next 12 years, and also as its baseball coach. He resigned in 2001 in order to take some time off from coaching, but remained at his position in the school's guidance department
.
In 2003, Castro left High Point to become the head football coach at Annapolis High School
. He resigned after one season when he could not secure a full-time position as a guidance counselor at the school. Castro said, "I think the Annapolis High football program needs a coach who works in the building. The kids deserve a full-time coach." In 2009, he was inducted into the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
. In 1997, he was inducted into the Anne Arundel County Sports Hall of Fame.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Maryland as a record-setting placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
. He had originally intended to play college baseball, and joined the football team as a walk-on. He had a brief career in the Arena Football League, and then spent two decades coaching high school football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
.
Early life and college
Castro was born on November 26, 1959 and grew up in Shady Side, MarylandShady Side, Maryland
Shady Side is a census-designated place in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States. The population was 5,559 at the 2000 census.-History:Capt. Salem Avery House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. The Lula G...
. He attended the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
with the intention of earning a scholarship
Athletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
as a baseball pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
, but contracted mononucleosis
Infectious mononucleosis
Infectious mononucleosis is an infectious, widespread viral...
during his first semester which caused him to miss the try-outs. After he recuperated, Castro decided to try out for the football team
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
as a walk-on placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
, a position he had played in high school. During his sophomore year, he was offered a scholarship. He joined another Maryland walk-on that season who gained national recognition, Charlie Wysocki, who was the nation's rushing leader in 1979.
In 1979, Castro tied the NCAA record for most field goals in a half, with four against . In the fourth quarter of that game, he made a fifth field goal. He set a then-NCAA record when he made his first 16 field goal attempts. In total, he made 17 field goals during the season. Castro was named a consensus first-team All-American
1979 College Football All-America Team
The 1979 College Football All-America team is composed of various organizations that choose College All-America teams that season. The organizations that chose the teams were Associated Press, United Press International, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Football Writers Association of America,...
by the NCAA selectors: the Walter Camp Football Foundation
Walter Camp Football Foundation
The Walter Camp Football Foundation is one of the organizations whose College Football All-America Team is recognized by the NCAA. The organization also presents various awards.-Awards:*Walter Camp Player of the Year*CT Player of the Year...
, United Press International
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
, Football Writers Association of America
Football Writers Association of America
The Football Writers Association of America is one of the organizations whose College Football All-America Team is recognized by the NCAA...
, and The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
. He concluded his collegiate career in 1980, and as the end of 2008 season, he remains the school's fourth-ranked player in career punting yards (8,584), seventh-ranked in field goal percentage (69.2%), and tenth-ranked in career field goals (27).
Professional career
Drafted and then cut by the Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
after the 1981 pre-season, Castro had a tryout with the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
in 1982. In 1983, he played for the Washington Federals in the United States Football League
United States Football League
The United States Football League was an American football league which was in active operation from 1983 to 1987. It played a spring/summer schedule in its first three seasons and a traditional autumn/winter schedule was set to commence before league operations ceased.The USFL was conceived in...
. He recorded three field goals on six attempts and two extra points on three attempts. He also played one season in the Arena Football League for the Washington Commandos
Washington Commandos
The Washington Commandos were an Arena football team that operated from 1987 to 1990.-Inaugural season :The Washington Commandos were a charter member of the Arena Football League, playing in the initial four-team "demonstration season" of 1987....
in 1987. That season, he made 12 field goals on 21 attempts and 16 extra points on 31 attempts.
From 1981 to 1986, he served as an assistant coach at Southern High School
Southern High School (Maryland)
Southern High School is a high school located in Harwood, Maryland, U.S.A., in Anne Arundel County. The school is operated by Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Southern was recognized as a Blue Ribbon School in 2009.-Notable alumni:* Phillip D...
in Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Anne Arundel County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is named for Anne Arundell , a member of the ancient family of Arundells in Cornwall, England and the wife of Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. Its county seat is Annapolis, which is also the capital of the state...
. From 1987 to 1989, he was the offensive coordinator
Offensive coordinator
An offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team who is in charge of the offense. Generally, along with his defensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
for DuVal High School
DuVal High School
DuVal Senior High School , is named in honor of Gabreil DuVal, a U.S. Representative from the second district of Maryland from November 11, 1794, to March 28, 1796, Chief Justice of the General Court of Maryland from 1796 to 1802, and First Comptroller of the U.S. Treasury from 1802 through 1811...
in Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, immediately north, east, and south of Washington, DC. As of 2010, it has a population of 863,420 and is the wealthiest African-American majority county in the nation....
. In 1990, Castro was hired as an assistant coach at High Point High School
High Point High School
High Point High School is a high school located in Beltsville, an unincorporated section of Prince George's County, Maryland, United States of America, and built on the highest point in Prince George's County....
. He served as High Point's head football coach for the next 12 years, and also as its baseball coach. He resigned in 2001 in order to take some time off from coaching, but remained at his position in the school's guidance department
School counselor
A school counselor is a counselor and an educator who works in elementary, middle, and high schools to provide academic, career, college access, and personal/social competencies to K-12 students...
.
In 2003, Castro left High Point to become the head football coach at Annapolis High School
Annapolis High School
Annapolis High School is an American high school located in the city of Annapolis, Maryland in Anne Arundel County. It is part of the Anne Arundel County Public Schools system and is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools....
. He resigned after one season when he could not secure a full-time position as a guidance counselor at the school. Castro said, "I think the Annapolis High football program needs a coach who works in the building. The kids deserve a full-time coach." In 2009, he was inducted into the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
The University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1982 by the M Club Foundation to honor student-athletes, coaches, and administrators who made significant contributions to athletics at the University of Maryland...
. In 1997, he was inducted into the Anne Arundel County Sports Hall of Fame.