STATE FINALIST 1993 2009
STATE CHAMPIONS 1915 1983 1985 1989 1992 2011
2014 DISTRICT 8A-7 CHAMPIONS
2014-15 HURRICANE COACHING STAFF
HEAD COACH JOHN BOOTH
Coach Booth returns to Manatee High School, his alma Mater, to become head coach. After graduating from Manatee High in 2000, Booth attended MidAmerica Nazarene University. He was an All-American Quarterback and inducted into their Hall of Fame. He received his Bachelors in English Education. After his career at MidAmerica Nazarene University, Booth was signed as a free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs and was allocated to the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe. Booth finished his career with the Kansas City Brigade of the Arena Football League.
Coach Booth and his wife Christina, have two sons Tsai (2) and Niko (9 months). Coach Booth comes from Bloomingdale High School, where he was Head Coach for 5 seasons.
CHUCK SANDBERG
Wide Receivers
M.S. Nova University
A graduate of Winter Park HS, Chuck lettered in 3 sports. He played 2 years at UF and was drafted by the Boston Red Sox. He is in his 29th year on the football staff. His hobbies include jogging, golfing and weight training. He and his wife Kelsie have two sons, Chase (21), Cord (19), and a daughter Callee (16).
STEVE PEEBLES
Offensive Line
B.S. Southwestern Kansas College, M.S. Nova University, ED. Specialist Nova University
Steve is a native of Bradenton and a 1984 graduate of Manatee High, where he was a Captain of the 1983 State Championship Team. He played college football at Southwestern Kansas where he was a 4 year starter and a two time all-conference player as an offensive guard. He has been teaching math and coaching football at Manatee for 26 years. His hobbies include golfing, fishing, and scuba diving.
DENNIS STALLARD
Special Teams
B.S. Florida State University
Dennis is a graduate of Edgewater High School in Orlando where he lettered in football, track and crew. He also played one year of football at FSU. Moving to Bradenton in 1986, he enters his 42nd year of teaching and coaching. Currently he teaches accounting and OJT and works with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Married to Marcia, they have two daughters, Kristin and Kelly and 3 grandsons, Ben, Will and Rylan.
DOMONIQUE DUNBAR
Cornerbacks
B.S. University of Louisville
Domonique played quarterback for Manatee and played in the CaliFlorida All Star Game. He played Cornerback for the University of Louisville from 2000-2004. He graduated from the University of Louisville with a B.S. in Sports Administration. He played 3 years of Arena Football from 06-08 and signed as a free agent ‘05 with the Eagles. Coach Dunbar has two kids, Demi and Dallas Dunbar.
CHAD CHOATE
Linebackers
B.S. University of South Florida
Chad played football and graduated from Manatee High in 2003. He graduated from the University of South Florida in 2007. This is his 2nd year as LB Coach. Chad has coached at Braden River and Cardinal Mooney as Defensive Coordinator prior to coaching at Manatee. He is married to Ashley, a 2002 graduate of Manatee & JV Cheerleading Coach and they have a son, Wesley (10) and daughter Camryn (7). Chad is a Hurricane legacy from his grandfather who was at Manatee High for 30+ years as a coach, dean and principal.
RICH LANSKY
Strength and Conditioning Coach
B.S. Syracuse University
Rich grew up in the New York/New Jersey area. He graduated from Livingston High School in New Jersey, where he was a multi-sport athlete. He began competitive lifting while at Syracuse, winning his weight class at the APA Nationals in 1992. Locally, he has coached with Booker football, Venice wrestling, Lakeland Christian football and Eckerd College rugby. He served as an international coach with USA Weightlifting from 1998-2007. This is his 4th season coaching at Manatee. He and his wife, Ann, have been married for 23 years.
ERICA BUEHNING
Head Athletic Trainer
Florida Gulf Coast University
Erica graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University with a Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training in 2010. After graduation, she interned as an Athletic Trainer at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports. From there she worked for two years at Eckerd College in Saint Petersburg, FL while earning her Master’s in Sports Management from the United States Sports Academy. This is her 3rd year as Head Athletic Trainer at Manatee High School.
CHRIS PETERS
Asst. Athletic Trainer
B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies - University of Wisconsin - Parkside
MEd Guidance & Counseling - Carthage College
A 1995 graduate of Manatee High, Chris served as a student athletic trainer for 3 1/2 years, including the 1992 State Championship season. In 2001 he earned his B.A. from University of Wisconsin - Parkside and passed the National Athletic Trainers’ Association certification exam. In 2004 he received his Master’s in Education from Carthage College. In 2013 he was named Athletic Trainer of the Year for the State of Florida. Chris and his wife Danette (Gartner), a 1994 MHS graduate, have 2 sons, Riley (12) and Joel (9).
JIM NELSON
Chaplin
Flagler College
Columbia Seminary
Jim grew up in Memphis, TN then moved to St Augustine and graduated from Flagler College in 1983, then came from Columbia Seminary in 1989. He then moved to Bradenton to begin Young Life in 1990. He has worked with teenagers at Manatee High since that time. He is a Presbyterian pastor and has been an avid Hurricane fan for the last two decades.
Daniel S. Lamar, M.D.
A native of Anna Maria Island, Daniel S. Lamar, M.D., Orthopedic Surgeon and
Sports Medicine Specialist with Coastal Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, specializes
in sports medicine, total joint replacement, cartilage rejuvenation, pediatric injuries
and arthroscopy. In addition to serving as team physician for the Manatee High
School Hurricanes, Dr. Lamar also serves as sports medicine physician to the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers, Pittsburgh Pirates, U.S. Soccer Team and IMG Academies, and is
medical director for Gatorade Sports Science Institute. Having completed his residency at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Dr. Lamar continued his medical training with a fellowship in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine at the University of Miami. Board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dr. Lamar has served as Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of South Florida College of Medicine.
JAMES BOOTH
Offensive Coordinator
B.S MidAmerican Nazarene University
James graduated from Manatee High School 2000, where he lettered in football, basketball, track and weightlifting. James joined his brother at MidAmerica Nazarene University. He set 7 school records and was an All American Wide Receiver. After graduating, James began his coaching career, most recently at Bloomingdale High School. Coach Booth is married to his beautiful wife Lauren and they have one son, Connor.
JASON MONTGOMERY
Athletic Director
Jason Montgomery was hired in February 2014 to lead the athletic department at Manatee High School bringing to the position over 20 years experience as an accomplished womens’ basketball coach and administrator. Montgomery comes to MHS having previously served as Athletic Director at three other schools; Santa Fe Catholic High School (FL), Nature Coast Technical High School (FL) and Saint Catharine College (KY). In addition to his experience as an administrator Montgomery has had a highly successful career as a womens’ basketball coach at both the high school and collegiate level.
WALT SMITH
Defensive Line
B.S. Civil Engineering Technology, Purdue University B.S. Business Leadership, Belhaven University
M.S. Business Leadership, Belhaven University
Walt is a graduate of Owen Valley High School in Spencer, Indiana where he was a 4 year letterman and 4 year All Conference in the WCC in Football. Walt and his family moved to Bradenton in 2006 where he has coached Freshman and JV Football at Manatee for the past 7 years. Walt assisted the defensive line in the post season for the last 4 years. Walt and his wife Heather own OMC Surveying & Mapping here in Bradenton and he and Heather have 4 boys Jeff, Robert, James and Paul. All who attended Manatee High School.
PATRICK CLINES
Equipment Manager, Graduate Assistant
A.A. State College of Florida
Patrick graduated Manatee High School in 2010, While at MHS Patrick was team manager and played basketball 2007-2009. After graduation he attended SCF and recived an associates degree in liberal arts in 2014. Patrick assisted the defensive line in 2011-12 during the FHSAA State Champion Season.
