Head Coach Robert Weiner's Plant Panthers are a step away from the semifinals of the state playoffs
H.B. Plant Head Coach Robert Weiner was honored as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers High School Football Coach of the Week on Wednesday, November 16 at One Buccaneer Place.
Coach Weiner is in his second year as head football coach at Plant. He spent 15 years as an assistant football coach at Jesuit High School, before serving as the head baseball coach at Crystal River High School for one year. He arrived at Plant in 2004.
Weiner's Panthers boast a 9-2 record and have advanced to the state playoffs for the first time since 1999. In the first round of the playoffs, the Panthers defeated Bradenton Bayshore by a score of 14-7, notching their third come-from-behind win of the season. That marked the first playoff victory for Plant since 1980 and set up a second-round game at Armwood High School this Friday where they take on the number-two ranked team in the state for a chance to advance to the Regional Semifinals.
"It's a great honor," Weiner said in response to receiving Coach of the Week recognition. "I've followed the Buccaneers for a long time and know what kind of pride they take in the excellence of every part of their program. We're happy we've done enough to warrant such an award."
Weiner was presented with a framed Coach of the Week certificate signed by NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, General Manager Bruce Allen and Head Coach Jon Gruden. He also received a football autographed by Gruden and a Coach of the Week cap. NFL Charities will award $1,000 to the Plant football program in Weiner's honor.
The Buccaneers are currently accepting nominations for the high school Coach of the Week. If you know of a high school football coach who exhibits excellence both on and off the field, please nominate that coach by clicking here.
