Quiz-The Greatest Coaching Tenures Ever

[OldSchoolLion]

Only 4 coaches in the history of the FHSAA have ever taken a football team at the same high school to a state semi or beyond more than 5 seasons in row.

What are their names and what team did each one coach at the time he achieved this great feat?

Discliamer; This is just one way of measuring "greatest coaching tenure."  It is a very rare accomplishment and it's probably safe to say only an elite-level coach could pull it off. 

 

 

 

 

[badbird]

I know one 

[Hwy17]

5 straight final 4s or better? Mike Hyde of Fort Meade, only one championship 

[OldSchoolLion]

Coach Mike Hayde is one of them!  From 1998 to 2008 he was Head Coach of the Fort Meade Miners and compiled a career coaching record of 117 - 35.  He was named a Florida High School Coach of the Year in 1999, 2002, 2004, and 2008. 

He led his team to 7 straight state semi's, and in 6 of those seasons his teams advanced to the state final.  Unfortunately, the Miners ran into some very some teams (3 straight state final losses to N FL Christian) and they won just one Class 1A title.  

Coach Hayde later coached several positions at Webber International University and is now a Running Backs Coach at Warner University in Lake Wales.  Good job Hwy17.  Considering Hwy 17 runs through Fort Meade, it makes sense you would get this one.

 

[Hwy17]

Hyde was never really apreciated by the Fort Meade fans. He twice applied for the Hardee job but wasn't our pick.

[Cocoa2010]

Coach Wilk(Cocoa) for sure and maybe Coach Rogers(Bolles). 

[OldSchoolLion]

Corky Rogers, no, but John Wilkinson yes!  Beginning in 2007, Coach Wilkinson led the Cocoa Tigers to a state semi.  The following three years they won state titles.  Then began a series of state semi battles against Miami Booker T Washington.  Coach Wilkinson just left Cocoa to become the HC at New Smyrna Beach.  In his 13 seasons there, Cocoa was 143-27 and won a total of 4 state titles. 

I figured you might get this one Cocoa2010.  

  

[badbird]

Byron Walker

[Bocefous70]

Leroy Foster I think is exactly 5 so I don’t think he counts for this. 

 

What about George Smith?

[OldSchoolLion]

8 minutes ago, badbird said:

Byron Walker

Nice guess, but no.  You are in the right neck of the woods, though.  Think of some of the great coaches.

[OldSchoolLion]

4 minutes ago, Bocefous70 said:

Leroy Foster

Great guess.  He did 5 semis in a row with Pahokee, but not more than 5 in a row.  

[badbird]

5 minutes ago, OldSchoolLion said:

Nice guess, but no.  You are in the right neck of the woods, though.  Think of some of the great coaches.

I thought it was 5 not more than 5.  I think Walker did 5 1982,83,84,85,86

[OldSchoolLion]

25 minutes ago, Bocefous70 said:

Leroy Foster I think is exactly 5 so I don’t think he counts for this. 

 

What about George Smith?

It is George Smith!  Between 2004 and 2010, he led the Raiders to 7 straight state semis.  In 6 of those seasons, the Raiders made it to the finals.  Only Manatee in 2009 kept that from being 7 straight finals.   Good job Bocefous!

[OldSchoolLion]

6 minutes ago, badbird said:

I thought it was 5 not more than 5.  I think Walker did 5 1982,83,84,85,86

So sorry, Byron Walker did do more than 5 in a row(1982-1988) with Glades Day  My bad!  Very good badbird.  That means there are actually 5 coaches who did it, not four.

Still one to go!  Like Smith and Walker, this fellow coached in the southern part of the state.

 

[badbird]

4 hours ago, OldSchoolLion said:

So sorry, Byron Walker did do more than 5 in a row(1982-1988) with Glades Day  My bad!  Very good badbird.  That means there are actually 5 coaches who did it, not four.

Still one to go!  Like Smith and Walker, this fellow coached in the southern part of the state.

 

I think you might still be missing 1 because I know one from the North

[Bocefous70]

26 minutes ago, badbird said:

I think you might still be missing 1 because I know one from the North

Who is it?  I was for sure cokely would be one but he had one year in the middle of a couple streaks that ruined it. 

[OldSchoolLion]

2 hours ago, Bocefous70 said:

Who is it?  I was for sure cokely would be one but he had one year in the middle of a couple streaks that ruined it. 

1980-1985, John Ensor led Class A Baker to 6 straight semi's, and in 5 of those years they made the finals.  

Turns out there are more than 4 coaches who did it.  There is at least one more..a well-known south Florida coach who coached his team more than 10 years ago.  

So far we have ..

George Smith/St Thomas Aquinas

John Wilkinson/Cocoa

Mike Hayde/Fort Meade 

Byron Walker/Glades Day

John Ensor Baker

[Bocefous70]

I’m stuck. All my guesses look like they have a hiccup year in the middle of their streaks. I would have guessed Guondolo, Jack Daniels, or Ice harris did it. 

[OldSchoolLion]

2 minutes ago, Bocefous70 said:

I’m stuck. All my guesses look like they have a hiccup year in the middle of their streaks. I would have guessed Guondolo, Jack Daniels, or Ice harris did it. 

It is Mark Guandolo!  He led Class 2A Chaminade-Madonna to 6 straight semi appearances between 2001-2006,  and three of those seasons he ended up in the title game.  Those were the years that Class 2A was brutal...American Heritage/Plantation, Bolles, Clewiston, Gulliver, Madison County, Monsignor Pace, Pahokee.  Coach Guandolo later coached at Cypress Bay.  He had a long, successful coaching career in south Florida.    

[badbird]

29 minutes ago, OldSchoolLion said:

1980-1985, John Ensor led Class A Baker to 6 straight semi's, and in 5 of those years they made the finals.  

Turns out there are more than 4 coaches who did it.  There is at least one more..a well-known south Florida coach who coached his team more than 10 years ago.  

So far we have ..

George Smith/St Thomas Aquinas

John Wilkinson/Cocoa

Mike Hayde/Fort Meade 

Byron Walker/Glades Day

John Ensor Baker

[OldSchoolLion]

I believe John Wilkinson of Cocoa has the record with 11 straight semi appearances.  Will be interesting to see if the new coach can keep Cocoa's streak of semi appearances alive.