Florida Athletic Coaches Association: Headlines


Coy Adkins Named 2008 Florida Dairy Farmers Softball Coach-of-the-Year Wewahitchka softball coach Coy Adkins has been named the 2008 Florida Dairy Farmers Softball Coach-of-the-Year. Adkins is the 16th winner of the annual award, sponsored by Florida Dairy Farmers, Inc. and the Florida Athletic Coaches Association. A statewide panel of high school softball coaches and prep media representatives voted on the award honoring the top high school coach for the 2008 season. In his 1st year as head coach at Wewahitchka, Adkins led his team to a 27-2 record and the Class 2A state title. He has a record of 27-2 at Wewahitchka and a career record of 72-16-1. Adkins, who was earlier chosen as the Class 2A Coach-of-the-Year, finished ahead of Class 5A Coach-of-the-Year Larry Sandburg of Venice as well as winners from the four other state classifications. Natalia Gonzalez of Jacksonville Mandarin (Class 6A) finished third followed Tom Fidul of Pembroke Pines Charter (Class 4A), Mike Young of Jacksonville Bishop Snyder (Class 3A) and Warren Brooks of Lake Worth Christian(Class 1A). The Florida Dairy Farmers Sports Awards program exemplifies Dairy Farmers Inc.'s commitment to the state's youth. While honoring the state's top athletes and coaches in all 24 FHSAA-sanctioned sports, the program also emphasizes to young people the importance of keeping dairy products a primary part of their diet in their overall nutrition plan. Florida Dairy Farmers Softball Coach-of-the-Year Winners 1993 – Jean King, Niceville (Slow Pitch) Marlyn Bevetta, Ridgewood (Fast Pitch) 1994 – Robert Iamurri, Naples 1995 – Leslie Black, Cardinal Mooney 1996 – Robert Iamurri, Naples 1997 – Mike Clamon, Valrico Bloomingdale 1998 – Kathy Finnucan, Winter Park Trinity Prep 1999 – Bryan Baucom, St. Thomas Aquinas 2000 – Kathy Finnucan, Winter Park Trinity Prep 2001 – Mark Schusterman, Miami Gulliver Preparatory 2002 – Glenn Rutenbar, Bartow 2003 – Becker Downie, Miami Palmetto 2004 – Glenn Rutenbar, Bartow 2005 – Chuck Poetter, Palm Harbor University 2006 – Glenn Rutenbar, Bartow 2007 – Kathy Finnucan, Winter Park Trinity Prep 2008 – Coy Adkins, Wewahitchka