After his boys won the state championship in 2012, Coach Doug Butler picked up his twelfth team title as a coach making him the winningest coach in state history. Last year, Butler passed legends Roy Harrison, Gary Droze, and Brent Haley with number eleven. At Holy Trinity, they don't rebuild, they reload. Butler works with the middle school kids to help prepare them for the biggest of stages at a young age. His sixth boys state championship ties him with Frankie Ruiz of Belen Jesuit for third on that list behind Bobby Ennis of Leto and former Largo coach Brent Haley.
Moving up into a tie for fifth is Estero coach Jeff Sommer. Sommer has had success over the last two decades with both his girls and guys squads. The girls won the last three state championships they have competed in including the 3A final in 2012. The win gave Sommer his seventh overall championship and third girls championship.
Two coaches, Frankie Ruiz and Tony Ryan, picked up their sixth overall titles and are tied for ninth on the overall state championships list. Frankie Ruiz has built a dynasty down in South Florida at Belen Jesuit. The Wolverines won their sixth state title in seven years and are a threat to win year in and year out. Ruiz is currently tied for third with Coach Butler for the most boys championships.
Coach Tony Ryan of Bolles has won at two schools and rival schools at that. After starting out at Bishop Kenny, Ryan is in his tenth year at Bolles and recently won his sixth state title as a coach with the Lady Bulldogs. His six girls state championships ties him for third with Butler and former Lakeland Christian coach Mike Musick. Rick Rothman of Spanish River has seven while current Plant coach Roy Harrison has ten.
STATE CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS BY COACHES
1. DOUG BUTLER*-HOLY TRINITY-12 GIRLS AND BOYS
2. BRENT HALEY-LARGO-10 BOYS
2. GARY DROZE*-MACLAY-10 GIRLS AND BOYS
2. ROY HARRISON*-PLANT-10 GIRLS.
5. BOB ENNIS-LETO-7 BOYS
5.RICK ROTHMAN*-SPANISH RIVER-7 GIRLS
5. SCOTT GOWAN*-PORT ST. JOE/TALLAHASSEE CHILES-7 BOYS AND GIRLS
5. JEFF SOMMER*-ESTERO-7 BOYS AND GIRLS
9. MIKE MUSICK-LAKELAND CHRISTIAN-6 GIRLS
9. TONY RYAN*-BISHOP KENNY/BOLLES-6 GIRLS
9. FRANKIE RUIZ*-MIAMI BELEN-6-BOYS
12. GEOFF PIETSCH-RANSOM-EVERGLADES-5 BOYS
12. NICK GAILEY-ASTRONAUT/TITUSVILLE-5 BOYS
12. MARILYNN WILLS-LEON-5 GIRLS
12. MIKE McPHERSON-WESTMINSTER ACADEMY/ATLANTIC-5 BOYS
12. BOB ESTES-CLEARWATER CENTRAL CATHOLIC-5 BOYS
12. MICHAEL DELUCIA-McARTHUR/SOUTH BROWARD-5 GIRLS AND BOYS
12. ARI MONTALVO-OUR LADY OF LOURDES-5 GIRLS
12. MIKE HILL- WINTER PARK-5 BOYS
20. MIKE HOLLOWAY-BUCHHOLZ-4 BOYS
20. JAMES McDANIEL-JAY-4 BOYS
20. JEFF KRAMER-ASTRONAUT-4 GIRLS
20. BOB JACKSON-ROCKLEDGE-4 GIRLS AND BOYS
20. STEVE LYONS-BISHOP KENNY/NEASE-4 GIRLS AND BOYS
20. MIKE BOZA*TAMPA JESUIT-4 BOYS
20. MICHELLE KREUGER-JACKSONVILLE EPISCOPAL-4 GIRLS
*ACTIVE
GIRLS AND BOYS STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
DON FOY-NICEVILLE
STEVE LYONS-BISHOP KENNY, NEASE
DREW BELL-PENSACOLA CATHOLIC
GARY DROZE*-MACLAY
BOB JACKSON-ROCKLEDGE
WILLIAM SULLIVAN*-JACKSONVILLE EPSICOPAL
MIKE DeLUCIA-SOUTH BROWARD (BOYS) McARTHUR (GIRLS)
DOUG BUTLER*-HOLY TRINITY ACADEMY
SCOTT GOWAN*-TALLHASSEE CHILES
JEFF SOMMER*-ESTERO
GIRLS STATE CHAMPIONS-BOYS RUNNER-UP
FRED FINKE*-LYMAN
MARILYNN WILLS-LEON
RICK ROTHMAN*-SPANISH RIVER
BOYS
1. BRENT HALEY-LARGO-10
2. BOB ENNIS-LETO-7
3. DOUG BUTLER-HOLY TRINITY-6
3. FRANKIE RUIZ-BELEN JESUIT-6
4. MIKE HILL-WINTER PARK-5
4. GARY DROZE*-MACLAY-5
4. GEOFF PIETSCH-RANSOM-EVERGLADES-5
4. NICK GAILEY-TITUSVILLE-ASTRONAUT-5
4. MIKE McPHERSON-WESTMINSTER ACADEMY/ATLANTIC-5
4. BOB ESTES-CLEARWATER CENTRAL CATHOLIC-5
GIRLS
1. ROY HARRISON*-PLANT-10
2. RICK ROTHMAN*-SPANISH RIVER-7
3. MIKE MUSICK-LAKELAND CHRISTIAN-6
3. DOUG BUTLER*-HOLY TRINITY-6
3. TONY RYAN-BOLLES/BISHOP KENNY-6
6. ARI MONTALVO-LOURDES-5
6. GARY DROZE*-MACLAY-5
6. MARILYNN WILLS-LEON-5
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