John Planamenta Named 2009 Florida Dairy Farmers Coach-of-the-Year



GAINESVILLE (April 30) --- Palm Harbor University High School girls’ soccer coach John Planamenta has been named the 2009 Florida Dairy Farmers Girls’ Soccer Coach-of-the-Year.

Planamenta is the 17th winner of the annual award, sponsored by Florida Dairy Farmers, Inc. and the Florida Athletic Coaches Association. A statewide panel of high school coaches and prep media representatives voted on the award honoring the top high school coach for the 2008-09 season.

Coach Planamenta’s teams have won eight district titles, made five Final Four appearances, had three state runner-up finishes and won two state titles (2006, 2009). He has a record of 117-9-3 at Palm Harbor and a career record of 198-41-16.

“Florida’s dairy farmers congratulate coach Planamenta for a job well done and we salute him with a milk toast,” said Matt Lussier, a Gainesville area dairy farmer. “We take a lot of pride in watching a winner such as coach Planamenta represent our industry and this award in such a positive manner and we wish him continued success.”

Planamenta, who was earlier chosen as the Class 5A Coach-of-the-Year, finished ahead of Class 6A Coach-of-the-Year Rosanna Lord of Melbourne as well as winners from the three other state classifications. Planamenta received five first-place votes and totaled 76 points with Lord finishing second with two first-place votes and 73 points.

Mike Pickett of St. John’s Country Day, the Class 2A Coach-of-the-Year finished third with 57 points followed by Phil Zayas of Plantation American Heritage (Class 3A) with 55 points and Dave Silverberg of Ponte Vedra (Class 4A) with 48 points.

The Florida Dairy Farmers Sports Awards program exemplifies Dairy Farmers Inc.'s commitment to the state's youth. While honoring the state's top athletes and coaches in all 25 FHSAA-sanctioned sports, the program also emphasizes to young people the importance of keeping dairy products a primary part of their diet in their overall nutrition plan.





Dairy Farmers Girls’ Soccer Coach-of-the-Year Winners



1993 – Carlos Giron, St. Thomas Aquinas

1994 – Gary Bennett, Longwood Lyman

1995 – Frank Adsit, Jacksonville Bolles

1996 – Rod Kenney, Orange Park

1997 – Carlos Giron, St. Thomas Aquinas

1998 – Bill Eissele, Lake Mary

1999 – Kenny Morgan, Pensacola Washington

2000 – Dean Johnson, Lakeland Christian

2001 – Mike Lagow, Gulf Breeze

2002 – Mike Lagow, Gulf Breeze

2003 – Laura Rountree, Parkland Douglas

2004 – Fidgi Haig, Satellite

2005 – Laura Rountree, Parkland Douglas

2006 – Laura Rountree, Parkland Douglas

2007 – Brett Terry, Satellite

2008 – Joe Lenard, Lakeland George Jenkins

2009 – John Planamenta, Palm Harbor University