TAMPA, Fla. — When you’ve coached as long as Joe Fenlon, you start to wonder if you are really making a difference.

The Tampa Prep boys basketball head coach got that answer in a big way when he reached a huge milestone.

What You Need To Know

 Joe Fenlon has been the head coach of the boys basketball team at Tampa Prep since 1983

 He recently reached the 900th win milestone. No high school coach has won more basketball games in Florida than Fenlon

 His Tampa Prep Terrapins win a lot. They’ve advanced to nine Final Fours and won a state championship in 2012

When his Terrapins team defeated Jefferson, it marked win number 900 for Fenlon. And it provided some clarity on his chosen profession.

“I knew I’m doing something right when you look into the stands today and you see some of these kids that I have not seen in years,” Fenlon said.

Since 1983, Fenlon has led the Tampa Prep boys basketball team. This team wins a lot. They won it all in 2012. The Terrapins have advanced to nine Final Fours.

But it’s not the victories that keeps Fenlon coming back for more. It’s the impact he has on his players.

“It’s a higher purpose than self, like it’s the school’s mission,” said Anddrikk Frazier, Tampa Prep Class of 1994. “And I think that not only does he exude that, but he breeds it. And you can tell by the performance of the team tonight and the amount of guys who came back to show their appreciation and their love for him.”

The stands were packed with current Tampa Prep students and former Terrapins players. They were all there to celebrate Fenlon’s big moment. But in typical Fenlon fashion, he didn’t want the moment to be about himself. He wanted it to be about the players.

“Each given year, kids just bought into, ‘If your loyal, if you’re true to yourself and each other, then special and good things could happen,’” Fenlon said.

He can deflect praise, but he can’t deny his status as one of the state’s greatest of all time. No high school coach has won more basketball games in the state of Florida than Fenlon.

He’s in the FHSAA Hall of Fame. And as far as he’s concerned, courtside with his Tampa Prep Terrapins is exactly where he is supposed to be.

“I’m just really lucky,” Fenlon said. “I’m lucky that I have an opportunity every day to come to work and work with some with some great kids. I’m just very fortunate, very fortunate.”