Robert Weiner

Robert Weiner is the current head football coach of the H.B. Plant High school Panthers in Tampa, FL. Weiner has coached Plant since the 2004 season and has accumulated 4 state championships (2006, 2008, 2009, 2011) along with 1 state championship runner-up (2010). His overall record, to date, with the Panthers is (147-26-1). Under Coach Weiner, Plant has reached #2 in the state of Florida rankings and #13 in the National rankings. His reputation as a brilliant offensive mind, quarterback guru, film-study addict, motivational speaker, and influential leader is renown in South Florida.
Early Life: Robert Weiner attended Jesuit high school. While at Jesuit, he became the student-body president. Weiner also played tennis and was a football manager for Jesuit. Upon graduation, Weiner chose to continue his education at Boston College. During his time there, Weiner received a commendation from former governor Michael Dukakis. He was awarded this commendation after running a fundraising campaign for the homeless. In 1987, Weiner returned to Jesuit high school as a Literature teacher and assistant football coach. While at Jesuit, Wiener ran their community service program. Bill Minahan, a mentor of Weiner, spurred his entry into football coaching. Before the 2004 season, Robert Weiner was announced as the new head football coach of the Plant Panthers.
As Plant's Coach: Before Weiner's arrival, the Plant Panthers were struggling. In the several seasons leading up to his takeover, Plant only produced one season with a winning record. Within 3 seasons as Plant's coach, Weiner led the Panthers to a state championship (2006). In his 12 seasons as coach, the Panthers only have one season with a losing record (2004-first year as coach). Other than that first season, Weiner's Panthers have never lost more than 3 games in a season. Plant has produced 4 state championships and a state championship runner up, all in a span of 6 years (2004-2011). Weiner has raised the football program to local and national prominence and prestige. His leadership and guidance stretch beyond the stats of his football team's success.
Weiner's Team Mission Statement: We want to enthusiastically work and relentlessly pursue the best we can be as a person, as a student, as a player, and as a teammate, for the sake of our Plant Football family.
College Coaching Opportunity: In 2013, Robert Wiener was offered a coaching position with the University of South Florida. USF sought to utilize Weiner's offensive mind and local recruiting connections. He initially accepted the position. After a few days of receiving messages containing adoration and appreciation from the local community through social media, Weiner changed his mind. He chose to decline the USF coaching offer and remained the head coach for Plant. He released a statement as to his reasoning.
Weiner's Statement to Community: "The truth is, and the fact of the matter is, ascending through the college ranks was never really my dream. My dream has always been-is always- to try to use any gifts that God has given me to impact the people around me the best that I possibly can. That's a pretty simple dream, but it's a pretty fulfilling one. And after about three days or so... I decided I fulfilled that dream every single day."
Weiner's Impact Beyond the Field: Robert Weiner might be unique in his coaching approach. While his team's success on the field is blatant, his ultimate purpose and motivation lies beyond the field. He has a great passion to produce impressive, prepared, knowledgeable young men as well as players. He has a realized purpose to help and positively influence others. His mission statement and USF coaching response stress the importance of aiding and developing each individual he comes across, treating them as more than simply "football players." Coach Weiner has been a counselor at the Muscular Dystrophy Association camp for 39 years. He invites and encourages his players to join him as counselors at the camp to learn the importance of service and gain a greater perspective as to the gifts and opportunities they have been given.
Weiner's Role Models/ Major Influences: Bill Minahan and Dominick Ciao (both football coaches at Jesuit)
Interesting Facts:
Coach Robert Weiner never played football
He was the Best Man to NFL kicker Jay Feely
He has run the Boston Marathon
He writes poetry

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