SARASOTA — Currently, Palmetto High School athletic director Brian Wilks is a big Eric Sanders fan.
It wasn't always like that. When the Tigers played football against Braden Rivers when Sanders was the Pirates' offensive coordinator, the games always seemed to end with Braden Rivers winning.
“There were times during the matchup when I felt like I should have beaten Braden Rivers, but I lost,” Wilkes said. “We hated facing him. Before Tom Brady came to the Bucs, until he signed with the Bucs, we all hated him, but then he became the best player in the world. He became a great man.”
Their man:Braden River High School stays home and hires OC Eric Sanders as head football coach
All you need is one:Rashad West resigns as Palmetto High School football coach
What is Palmetto's mantra? If you can't beat him, hire him as your head coach. The Pirates hired Sanders on Tuesday, just four months after he took over as Braden River's manager. Sanders replaces Kurt Bradley, who served as offensive coordinator for 12 seasons.
Sanders will replace Jim Webb, Palmetto's assistant, who was named interim head coach after West abruptly resigned in March. Still, Wilkes didn't open the position to candidates until two weeks before spring football started. He offered Webb an interview, but Webb declined.
“People have contacted us several times,” Wilkes said. “We want what's best for our kids. But we didn't rush into it. We took our time. We wanted to make sure we got the right people. I know Coach Sanders thought long and hard about it, and he was one of the last people to put his name in the hat, and he was very surprised when he applied. Ta.”
Still, hiring Sanders wasn't easy for Wilkes. He also considered head coaches who were born locally but are currently coaching outside of their hometown.
“There were no set parameters,” he said. “We just wanted someone who could empathize with the kids and make them feel safe. He made us feel safe in the interview. It was tough, but we made the right decision. I think.”
“I am grateful for the past 12 years of leadership at Braden River,” Sanders said in a statement. “I was happy to step up as head coach following a successful spring. I'm very excited to have this opportunity at Palmetto High School. Palmetto's tradition and community are second to none. Their football program has a rich history of excellence and I am honored to serve as their next head football coach.”
Wilkes was asked why Sanders resigned just four months after taking the head coaching job.
“I think the bottom line is he thought he might have a good opportunity to move up in position and get to the top of the (Palmetto) hill,” Wilkes said. “Braden River is a great program. He felt there were some athletes here that he wanted to work with.
“We have the talent. A lot of college coaches come here to watch them. It takes a perfect storm to be successful.”
Under West, who joined Palmetto after four years as coach at Lakewood Ranch, the Tigers finished the 2023 regular season with a 5-5 record, losing three of their final four games before falling to Riverview in the first round of the postseason.
As for Sanders, he will be teaching at Palmetto, just as he did at Braden River. And he wastes little time immersing himself in his work. He plans to take the players to the practice field on Tuesday.
He believes the Tigers can win next season, and Wilks agrees.
“We have the talent,” he said. “Our main goal is to be successful next season.”
