Head Coach Joe Kinnan has led Manatee High to a 6-0 start this season
Joe Kinnan hasn't seen too many victories more exciting than the one his Manatee High School Hurricanes pulled off last Friday against Charlotte High. And he hasn't seen anything quite like the new One Buccaneer Place before.
Thanks to a 28-yard field goal by kicker Alex Torres as time expired, the Hurricanes nipped Charlotte High, 13-12. That kept Kinnan's crew undefeated this season; they're off to a 6-0 start, including a 2-0 record in Class 5A-District 11.
As a result of that success, Kinnan has been named the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' fifth High School Coach of the Week this fall. On Thursday, he had four guests visited the Bucs' state-of-the-art headquarters, got a tour of the expansive grounds and watched the team's morning practice. After the workout, Buccaneers Head Coach Jon Gruden presented Kinnan with a commemorative certificate and personalized football in recognition of the award. Kinnan will also receive $1,000 for his school's football program.
Edgewater High School's William Gierke also toured One Buccaneer Place on Thursday and receive an award. The fourth Coach of the Week winner, Gierke was unable to visit Buccaneer headquarters and accept his award last week.
The Buccaneers will honor ten high school coaches from Central and West Central Florida during this year's prep football season. A Coach of the Year will be selected from the ten weekly winners at the end of the season and will receive an additional $1,000 for his football program. The Buccaneers and National Football League's Coach of the Week program aids in the development of youth football, which has a positive influence on young athletes and the communities in which they live.