Since Plant High School started playing organized football in 1927, Only 15 men have been named as the head varsity football coach. The great Roland Acosta roamed the sidelines for two decades and for many years, was the measuring stick for success of area coaches.
After Roland Acosta stepped away, Darlee Nelson was the next head coach of the Panther football program. Under Nelson’s management, Plant had just one season (2001) when the team was .500 or better.
In 2004, Jesuit assistant coach, Robert Weiner would be hired as the 15th varsity football coach at Plant High School. That would be the turning point and beginning of one of the most dominant football eras the state of Florida has seen.
Tomorrow night, Robert Weiner will go for his 100th win vs Bloomingdale. In his 9th season as a head football coach, he is 99-18 (99 wins and only 18 losses). After his initial season, where his Plant Panthers were 3-7, Weiner, staff and program has absolutely put up some of the most impressive numbers the state of Florida has seen.
To date, Robert Weiner is averaging 11 wins and 2 losses a year. He has been the dictionary definition of consistency. Besides the 7 losses he suffered in his first season and 3 losses his second season, Coach Weiner has had 2 undefeated seasons and two 1 loss seasons. He has led his program to eight straight district championships and 4 state championship in 5 appearances.
Let’s put this in perspective. Check this out. Compared to Florida coaching legends in their first 9 seasons as head football coaches:
Robert Weiner
99-18-0 (Plant 2004-present) .85 win %
Joe Kinnan
91-20-0 (Manatee 1981-1989) .82 win %
George Smith
80-22-0 (St. Thomas Aquinas 1975-1983) .78 win %
Earl Garcia Jr.
76-26-0 (Boca Ciega 1982-1983, Hillsborough 1993-1999) .75 win %
Roland Acosta
76-27-1 (Jefferson 1966, Plant 1973-1980) . 73 win %
Paul Maechtle
76-28-0 (Southeast 1981-1989) .73 win %
Billy Turner
56-33-1 (Hillsborough 1968-1972, 1976-1978,Chamberlain 1979) .62 win %
Bill Castle
62-40-0 (Lakeland 1976-1984) .61 win %
Dominick Ciao
58-39-0 (Jesuit 1986-1994) .60 win %
As you can see, Coach Weiner has the highest winning percentage in his first nine seasons of many of the state of Florida’s legendary coaches. We took the time to look at a few of Robert Weiner’s “mile marker” wins.
Win #1 – 9/17/2004 vs. Leto 10-7 @Leto. Plant would finish the season at 3-7.
Win #10 – 10/28/2005 vs. Jefferson 26-23 @Plant. Jefferson was coming off a state championship game appearance and this would would set the tone for years to come. Plant concluded the 2005 season at 9-3
Win #20 – 10/20/2006 vs. Alonso 42-20 @Plant. This is where the vision became clear that Plant had a chance at an undefeated season and could make some noise in the playoffs.
Win #30 – 9/21/2007 vs. Riverview 43-22 @Plant
Win #40 – 9/19/2008 vs. Middleton 56-14 @Plant
Win #50 – 12/5/2008 vs. Armwood 17-14 @Plant (playoffs). The 2006 state championship was no longer a one time thing. The win over favorite Armwood, pushed Plant closer to their second state championship in 2008.
Win #60 – 11/13/2009 vs. Robinson 29-13 @Plant
Win #70 – 10/15/2010 vs. Spoto 36-20 @Plant
Win #80 – 9/16/2011 vs. Bergen Catholic @Manatee. This was nationally televised game where Plant did what they needed to do to hold onto victory.
Win #90 – 12/2/2011 vs. East Lake 28-21 OT @East Lake (playoffs). Expected to be a monster match-up and it was just that. East Lake is still feeling the pain from this loss.
Win #99 – 10/26/2012 vs. Armwood 20-19 OT @Plant. Instant Classic!
Win #100 – 11/2/2012 vs. Bloomingdale?
After numerous national rankings, national prospects, team and individual accolades, tons of players who have advanced to the college ranks, district titles, state titles, what else is there to do for the Robert Weiner? Simple answer: Do it all over again. In just his 9th season, Coach Weiner has surpassed East Bay long time coach, Brian Thornton (97-79-0 East Bay 1994-2010, 176 games as a head coach) on the Hillsborough County winningest coaches list and is expected to pass Jim Reed (100-72-7 Pinecrest 1954-1958, Turkey Creek 1959-1971) and Jerry Durnin (101-62-0 King 1971-1986) making him the 9th winningest coach in Hillsborough County history in just 9 years and less than 120 games as a head football coach.
Plant under Robert Weiner
2004 3-7 HC Robert Weiner
2005 9-3 HC Robert Weiner District Champion
2006 15-0 HC Robert Weiner District Champion-State Champion
2007 11-2 HC Robert Weiner District Champion
2008 14-1 HC Robert Weiner District Champion- State Champion
2009 13-1 HC Robert Weiner District Champion- State Champion
2010 12-3 HC Robert Weiner District Champion- State Runner-Up
2011 15-0 (14-1) HC Robert Weiner District Champions, State Champions (forfeit win v Armwood)