The Southwest Florida Community is mourning the death of two coaches Tuesday.
Longtime Dunbar High School track and field coach Guy Thomas died after a month-long fight with COVID-19, it was learned early this morning from Dunbar coaches.
Former Lely coach Mark McGarity also died after a long bout with cancer, it was learned.
Thomas had recently led the Tigers to a third-place finish at the FHSAA Class 3A track and field championships in May. Dunbar scored 43.33 points and saw senior Leonard Mustari win the hurdle double in the 110mH and the 300mH. He also scored a second-place finish the long jump.
Thomas' girls, meanwhile, were sixth at state, and the Tigers saw senior Lucheyona Weaver secure a 100mH championship.
Thomas' success with the program has grown exponentially over the last few years, with Dunbar becoming one of the state's top sprint and hurdle programs in Class 3A.
He qualified numerous athletes to the state championships and also helped the Tigers' cross country teams reach the state championships.
McGarity, meanwhile, retired in 2019 after 38 years coaching the Trojans. McGarity was a former marathoner who started coaching in 1981.