MEET THE COACHES

Hank Brown has served as Head Coach of Plant High School Football since 2021, leading the program with a strong emphasis on academics, character, and competitive excellence. A Plant alumnus and longtime coach in the program since 2004, he previously served as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. He played collegiately at University of Central Florida and later with the Granite State Warriors.

Under Brown’s leadership, Plant has achieved consistent postseason success, including district and regional championships and a state semifinal appearance, while competing at the top levels of Florida high school football. He has earned multiple Coach of the Year honors and recognition for sportsmanship and positive coaching.

Equally important, the program prioritizes academic excellence. Plant Football has received state and national academic awards, maintains team GPAs above 3.0 annually (peaking at 3.573), and produces numerous scholar-athletes and National Merit honorees.

Coach Brown’s philosophy focuses on developing complete student-athletes through academic accountability, elite strength and football training, and intentional leadership and character development — reinforcing Plant Football’s standard of excellence on and off the field.

Derrick Baity brings elite playing experience and a passion for developing young men both on and off the field to the Plant Football coaching staff.

A proud Plant High School alumnus, Baity starred for the Panthers before continuing his career at the University of Kentucky, where he competed at the highest level of college football in the SEC. He went on to play professionally in the NFL with the Houston Texans and New York Giants.

Coach Baity brings a player’s perspective, high-level football knowledge, and a strong commitment to mentorship into the program each day. His favorite part of coaching is helping student-athletes grow — not just as competitors, but as students, leaders, and young men prepared for life beyond football.

His guiding philosophy is simple:

“It’s not the hand you’re dealt — it’s how you play the hand.”

Through accountability, resilience, and daily discipline, Coach Baity helps uphold the championship standard of Plant Football.

Terrance Hicks brings decades of coaching experience, leadership, and strong Tampa Bay football roots to Plant Football. A former Wharton High School and Southeastern University player, he previously led Plant City High School as Head Coach, earning two Coach of the Year awards. Known for steady leadership, attention to detail, and emphasizing fundamentals, Hicks builds disciplined, consistent programs grounded in accountability and hard work. Beyond football, he mentors students academically and personally, using the game to develop character and responsibility. At Plant, he reinforces the program’s culture, challenging players to grow on and off the field while upholding the Panther standard.

Bobby Richardson brings energy, passion, and a strong commitment to the Plant Football brotherhood. Focused on doing things the right way, he emphasizes accountability, discipline, and connection. Beyond wins and losses, Coach Richardson is dedicated to developing character, habits, and life skills in his players. He reinforces Plant’s core standards of effort, toughness, execution, and unity, emphasizing fundamentals, preparation, and strong player relationships. Fully aligned with Plant Football’s mission—where academics, character, and championship standards meet—he challenges players to represent something bigger than themselves and cultivates disciplined, resilient, and high-character young men on and off the field.

Kyle Cerge-Henderson joins the football staff at Plant High School with collegiate coaching experience and a strong focus on player development and mentorship. A graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology with a master’s degree from University of South Florida, he has coached defensive line and served as a defensive coordinator since 2019, most recently working at USF as an assistant defensive line coach at the Division I level.

Known for his energy, discipline, and attention to fundamentals, Cerge-Henderson emphasizes toughness, accountability, and defensive dominance up front. His coaching philosophy—HUNT (Humility, Urgency, Nerve, Toughness)—guides his commitment to developing student-athletes both on the field and in the classroom while helping build a strong culture within the Plant program.

Michael Schleelein brings a dynamic blend of playing experience, professional insight, and high-level football knowledge to the Plant Football coaching staff. A Buffalo native, he played at Hamburg High School before competing collegiately at University at Buffalo, and later gained NFL experience working with the San Diego Chargers and Washington Redskins organizations.

As Plant’s Special Teams Coordinator, he emphasizes discipline, preparation, and situational excellence, earning Special Teams Coordinator of the Year honors. Known for his demanding standards and mentorship, Schleelein focuses on developing tough, accountable, and resilient student-athletes both on and off the field.

Michael Massey is a coach at Plant High School who brings strong energy, passion, and a focus on player development to the football program. Originally from Pennsylvania, he played at Garnet Valley High School before continuing collegiately at Shippensburg University, where he built a foundation in discipline, teamwork, and accountability.

Massey emphasizes fundamentals, preparation, and competitive toughness while prioritizing relationships and personal growth. Guided by his philosophy of “Oneness,” he promotes unity, trust, and collective commitment, helping foster a strong, connected team culture both on and off the field.

Tucker Gleason returns to Plant High School in 2024 as a member of the football coaching staff, bringing elite quarterback experience and a deep connection to the Panthers’ program. A former standout at Plant, he went on to play collegiately at Georgia Tech before emerging as a high-producing starter, throwing for 2,800+ yards and 24 touchdowns in 2024 while ranking near the top of the Mid-American Conference and earning multiple weekly national honors, including recognition after a standout game against Mississippi State University. He also served as a team captain and earned Academic All-Conference honors.

At Plant, Gleason was one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in school history, passing for over 3,000 yards, earning all-state and all-county honors, and showcasing dual-threat ability. Now back with the Panthers, he combines high-level playing experience, leadership, and a passion for mentoring student-athletes on and off the field.

Whop Philyor returns to Plant High School as a coach, bringing high-level collegiate and professional playing experience to the Panthers’ staff. A former Plant standout, he earned first-team all-state honors and helped lead the program to a state championship game appearance.

Collegiately, Philyor became one of the top receivers in Indiana University history, ranking among the school’s leaders in receptions, yards, touchdowns, and 100-yard games while earning multiple All-Big Ten honors and national recognition. He later signed with the Minnesota Vikings and continued his professional career with the Michigan Panthers and Houston Roughnecks.

Now transitioning into coaching, Philyor brings elite-level knowledge of receiver play, preparation, and competitiveness, along with a strong commitment to mentoring student-athletes and giving back to the Plant football community.

Johayward “Scoop” Bradshaw returns to Plant High School as a coach, bringing Division I playing experience and a strong connection to the Panthers’ program. A former standout defensive back at Plant, he was a team captain and one of Florida’s top prospects, helping lead the team to a district championship while compiling over 300 tackles and 15 interceptions.

Bradshaw went on to play four seasons at Syracuse University, appearing in 44 games with 23 starts and contributing as both a starting cornerback and special teams leader.

Now back at his alma mater, he focuses on developing disciplined, fundamentally sound defensive backs and mentoring student-athletes with a player-first approach and high standards both on and off the field.

Issaic Ricks is the Running Backs Coach at Plant High School, bringing SEC experience and a focus on player development to the Panthers. A former University of Florida player, Ricks contributed on special teams and as a reserve running back, including appearances in the 2020 Cotton Bowl and the 2021 season. He emphasizes ball security, vision, pass protection, and effort without the ball. Off the field, Ricks earned SEC Academic Honor Roll recognition and works as a Project Manager for DuCon Construction, applying leadership and organization skills to coaching. His combination of collegiate experience, professional expertise, and attention to detail helps him develop players on and off the field.

Chris Rolle, a Tampa native and former NFL player, brings championship experience and leadership to Plant Football. He played at Hillsborough High School, Wake Forest University, and professionally with the New England Patriots and Barcelona Dragons. Rolle emphasizes developing athletes not only in skill but in character, discipline, and mental toughness, using football as a platform to teach life lessons. Guided by a “man in the arena” philosophy, he mentors players to embrace adversity, compete with purpose, and grow into high-character, resilient young men.

Cullen Sullivan, a Florida native and former Mandarin High School player, brings energy, commitment, and a focus on character development to Plant Football. He emphasizes fundamentals, accountability, and consistent effort, helping players grow as athletes, students, and future leaders. Guided by the motto “Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it,” Sullivan fosters discipline, work ethic, and preparation to reinforce the culture and championship standards of Plant Football.

Cyril Brockmeier, a Florida native and former Tulane University player, brings elite collegiate coaching experience to Plant Football, having coached at Tulane, Stanford, and Dartmouth. He emphasizes discipline, accountability, and purposeful preparation, focusing on developing both athletic skill and character. Guided by the philosophy “You’re either coaching it, or allowing it to happen,” Brockmeier fosters mental and physical toughness, technical precision, and a culture of connection — “Always a Link.” His leadership prepares student-athletes to succeed academically, athletically, and in life.

Andre Mondor, a Plant High School alumnus and former Liberty University offensive lineman, returns to Plant Football to lead the offensive line. A four-year letterwinner, he helped the Panthers win three state championships and achieve a 53–4 record, earning multiple local honors and excelling academically. Mondor emphasizes fundamentals, toughness, communication, and unity in the trenches, guiding linemen to dominate physically and mentally. With his championship experience and commitment to character, he mentors players to uphold the Panther standard: “Win the line of scrimmage. Win the game.”

Jeff Murphy, a Jesuit High School and University of Pennsylvania alumnus, brings discipline, intelligence, and a commitment to academic–athletic excellence to Plant Football. He emphasizes preparation, accountability, and character development, helping players grow into responsible, resilient young men. Guided by the motto “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity,” Murphy teaches that success comes from consistent effort on and off the field, reinforcing the culture and championship standards of Plant Football.

Billy Minahan, a Plant High School and Vanderbilt University alumnus, brings leadership, discipline, and a family legacy of Hillsborough County football to Plant Football. He emphasizes preparation, toughness, and team-first culture, teaching players to honor tradition while building their own legacy. Guided by the belief that football offers “48 minutes and a lifetime of memories,” Minahan fosters character, brotherhood, and championship standards on and off the field.

Brian Gant, a former NFL player with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Illinois State University alumnus, brings toughness, professionalism, and mentorship to Plant Football. He emphasizes character, discipline, and accountability, teaching players that success comes from integrity and hard work on and off the field. Guided by the principle “Character is doing the right thing when nobody is looking,” Gant develops confident, high-character student-athletes who uphold the standards of Plant Football.

Caleb Hazley, a Plant High School alumnus and former Western Kentucky University player, returns to Plant Football as a coach and mentor. He emphasizes accountability, discipline, and brotherhood, helping players grow on and off the field. Guided by the philosophy “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together,” Hazley focuses on relationships, teamwork, and upholding the Panther tradition while strengthening the program’s culture and championship standards.

Luke Pawlak, Plant Football’s Kicking Specialist Coach, brings collegiate experience and a player-first approach to the program. A former Division I kicker at Kent State and Montana State, Pawlak earned Third-Team All-MAC honors and Academic All-MAC recognition. He focuses on technique, consistency, and the mental side of kicking, mentoring Plant’s specialists while applying his high-level playing experience and professional expertise to develop confident, skilled kickers.

Ron Wuotlia, Plant Football’s Leadership Coach, brings over 30 years of experience developing athletes, teams, and organizational leaders. He focuses on mindset, habits, and systems that foster accountability, mental toughness, and consistent performance. At Plant, Wuotlia helps shape the program’s culture, teaching players to think critically, lead with purpose, and succeed on and off the field.

Derrick Baity brings elite playing experience and a passion for developing young men both on and off the field to the Plant Football coaching staff.

A proud Plant High School alumnus, Baity starred for the Panthers before continuing his career at the University of Kentucky, where he competed at the highest level of college football in the SEC. He went on to play professionally in the NFL with the Houston Texans and New York Giants.

Coach Baity brings a player’s perspective, high-level football knowledge, and a strong commitment to mentorship into the program each day. His favorite part of coaching is helping student-athletes grow — not just as competitors, but as students, leaders, and young men prepared for life beyond football.

His guiding philosophy is simple:

“It’s not the hand you’re dealt — it’s how you play the hand.”

Through accountability, resilience, and daily discipline, Coach Baity helps uphold the championship standard of Plant Football.

Steve Harrison, Plant Football’s Associate Head Coach and Junior Varsity Defensive Coordinator, brings nearly 20 years of high-level athletic and coaching experience. A certified strength and conditioning coach, former collegiate player, and international competitor, he emphasizes discipline, fundamentals, and physicality while mentoring athletes on and off the field. Since moving to Tampa in 2005, Harrison has dedicated himself to developing student-athletes, building strong defensive units, and fostering leadership, character, and community impact.

Steven Tate, a St. Thomas Aquinas (Ohio) and Princeton University alumnus, brings intelligence, discipline, and a focus on continuous improvement to Plant Football. He emphasizes daily growth, accountability, and total development—helping student-athletes excel on the field, in the classroom, and in life. Guided by the philosophy “Beat yesterday,” Tate mentors young men to be resilient, disciplined, and high-achieving while upholding the championship standards of Plant Football.