JOHN PEACOCK
HEAD COACH
Coach Peacock has laid a foundation of excellence, and a No Excuses attitude for his players to follow. He and the rest of the Indian staff strive to develop their players to become leaders on the field, in the classroom, and out in the community.
Coach Peacock is married to the former Georgia Miller, he has expanded his family and he has two step-children; Mariah who is a freshmen at VHS, and Mikey who is in 8th grade. They are also expecting their first child in February.
The 2009 season saw many accomplishments for the Indians. They opened up their season on ESPN, which garnered them National attention and brought Venice High Football into millions of homes across America. Another milestone was reached as a third consecutive district championship was captured, a fete never before done in the history of Venice Football. Once again, Venice led the area in offense averaging 34.5 points and 378.3 yards per game, as well as a +18 turnover differential. The Indians have been 12-0 in the district the past three seasons and have not lost to an area team in two years.
Coach Peacock has been a member of the Venice High teaching community and Indian football staff since 1999. Before taking over as Head Coach in 2007, Peacock served as Linebacker, Defensive Back, Wide Receivers, and Running Backs coach, as well as Special Teams Coordinator, and before taking over the reigns, as Defensive Coordinator.
LARRY SHANNON
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
Coach Shannon was an assistant coach at ECU from 2003-2004. He has been a coach and teacher at Venice High School since 2004.
Originally from Starke, Fl, Coach Shannon is our defensive coordinator. He is entering his sixth year at VHS. Under his guidance the Indian defense has been considered one of the best in the area. They have allowed, on average, only 13 points per game the past three seasons. In 2008, the defense allowed only 199 offensive yards per game, while sacking opponent quarterbacks 18 times and causing 22 turnovers. 2009 saw an unprecedented 33 ½ total team sacks, while causing 15 fumbles and picking off opposing quarterbacks 12 times. Coach Shannon shows a high intensity and extreme passion for the game. That emotion has transferred to his players, and on Friday nights you can see the defense swarming to the ball and playing inspired.
Larry is married to Kweli Shannon and has four children: Jannah 14, Larry David 6, Aaliyah 5, and newest edition, baby Sophia.
JERRY MCMANUS
QB COACH
MIKE BARTLETT
TE/DB COACH
A Buckeye through and through, Coach Bartlett is from Cambridge, Ohio. Mike played four years at West Liberty State in West Liberty, WV, as a wide receiver and quarterback. He received his Bachelor’s in Physical Science and Special Education from West Liberty in 1992, and his Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from National-Louis University in December 2005.
Coach Bartlett has been coaching for 16 years. He spent one year at Buckeye Local High School as the Head JV coach, Running Backs coach, and Defensive Backs coach. At Terry Sanford High in Fayetteville, NC he spent four years as a wide receivers coach. Coach Bartlett also spent five years coaching wide receivers, defensive backs, and outside linebackers at rival Charlotte High School.
DAVE BUTLER
OL COACH
DAMON WILSON
HEAD JV COACH
This is Coach Wilson’s third year coaching with the Indians. He is a graduate of Ribault Sr High in Jacksonville, Fl 1990. He received a full athletic scholarship to East Carolina University where he was a four-year letterman on their football team. Coach Wilson received his BS in Criminal Justice from ECU, and is the founder of Building Blocks Investment Group.
He is married to Lisa Michelle Wilson, and has four children: Omari 16, Cayla 13, Damon 5, and adopted cousin Terrel 16.
TIM WEIDLEIN
ILB COACH
Born and raised in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico Coach Weidlein enters his second season on the Venice High Football staff coaching inside linebackers. Coach Weidlein, during his high school football career lettered all four years. After graduating in 2002 from Antilles High School he received an academic scholarship from Kent State University. There Coach Weidlein majored in Health and Physical Education and completed his degree in May of 2007. Currently he is working towards his masters in Physical Education at the University of South Florida.
Coach Weidlein will be entering his third year of teaching H.O.P.E and PE at Venice High School. He is excited that he has become a part of the Venice football family and is excited for the upcoming season.
Coach Wiedlein is married to the former Amber Krug, who is a teacher and coach at Heron Creek Middle. They are expecting their first child in November.
Since graduating, Jessica has balanced her time between football, work and school. Jessica is currently enrolled with the University of Phoenix online, as she pursues her Bachelors in Psychology.
This is Coach Butler's sixth season with the Indians.
He is married to Vickie and they have two children, Kayla and Brett.
COACH BUTLER
CIRCA 1979
RON COLANGELO
DL COACH
This is Ron’s 36th year coaching. Ron coached at Venice for 13 years through the 2006 season. Prior to that Ron was a Head Coach in Massachusetts and also 2 years at South Fork H.S. in Stuart, FL. Ron resides in Venice with his wife Gerry.
He has two daughters, Allyson and Kelly who were both Venice High graduates.
Ron also coaches weightlifting. He was the weightlifting coach st Sarasota High the past 5 years, where he and his lifters won the 2A State Championship in 2008. Ron is looking forward to the day when Venice High wins another State Football Championship. Good Luck and God Bless to all of our athletes and coaches here at VHS.
BRYAN BRYSON
KICKING COACH
FRED SOSNOSKI
ASSISTANT COACH
teams.
Prior to his high school coaching career he was the head coach of a 2 time state championship pop warner team in Mass. His record was 42-6 over 5 seasons. During this period his teams won 4 league championships and one
regional title.
During high school coach Rotella earned ALL-STATE WR in New York. He is a graduate of the State University of New York at Brockport with a BS in Computer Science and currently owns a very successful business which provides telecommunication products worldwide.
Coach Rotella and his wife reside in Venice and have three children, oldest daughter has an MBA from FGCU, second daughter is a captain on the USF cheerleading team, and his son will attend Kent State with a tryout for QB.
Pete Dombroski has been coaching football at Venice High for 21 years, coached varsity, JV and freshman. Before coaching at Venice I coached 6 years in New Jersey. He received his B.A. at Kean University of New Jersey, his ESE certification from USF Sarasota and Masters degree in Leadership Education from Argosy University. Besides coaching football, coached baseball for 13 years and coaches softball. He is also the Behavior Specialist and Athletic Director. Has 2 children Christen a freshman at VHS (2010-2011) and Cody an 8th grader at SLA.
Born 5/17/1940 in Winder, GA Coach Lay lettered in 5 sports 9,10,11,12 at WBHS. He played in the Georgia High School All-Star Football game in 1958, and signed a scholarship with Vanderbilt that same year. He lettered his freshmen year at Vandy. He then transferred to Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC where he lettered all four years in football and recieved his BA in English in 1963. He received his Masters in Guidance and Psychology from the University of Mississippi in 1971.
Coach Lay is married and has three children, and five grandchildren.
Born and raised in Northeastern Detroit, Coach Fred Sosnoski is the youngest of five boys from Ken and Katherine Sosnoski. Coach Sosnoski was a two sport athlete at Chippewa Valley High School; lettering in Football and Baseball. Coach Sosnoski played linebacker at Grand Rapids College before transferring to Michigan State University where injuries finished his college football career.
Coach Sosnoski has coached many sports since moving down to Florida for a teaching career. While at Saint Stephens in Bradenton, Coach Sos helped start a football program anew with Head Coach Matt Kitchie as their first Defensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach. Also at Saint Stephens, Coach Sosnoski was the Varsity Softball Head Coach where he led the Falcons to three district championships and 4 Regional Playoff appearances. For the past 4 years, he has been the Linebackers Coach and aide to the Defensive Coordinator at Lemon Bay High School. He is also the former Varsity Head Baseball Coach at Lemon Bay. Although he has coached many sports, football is and always will be his number 1 passion.
Coach Sosnoski is entering his first season as a football coach for the Venice Indians. Coach Sos has been a resident of Venice the past 5 years, and he is excited to be coaching at Venice High.
TONY ROTELLA
HEAD FRESHMEN COACH
PETE DOMBROSKI
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
ASSISTANT COACH
MIKE LAY
ASSISTANT COACH
SCOTT LANE
ASSISTANT COACH
His coaching career spans six decades:
1963-1965: Baldwin Co. HS Millidge, GA - Asst. Coach
1965-1968: Worth Co. HS Sylvester, GA - Head Coach
1968-1971: Charlotte HS Punta Gorda, FL - Asst. Coach
1971-1974: Charlotte HS Punta Gorda, FL - Head Coach
(Undefeated regular season 1971)
1974-1991: Venice High School Venice, FL - Defensive Coordinator (under Jim Powell)
1991-2010: Riverview High School Sarasota, FL - Asst. Coach
TERRY POLK
ASSISTANT COACH
MIKE LAY JR
ASSISTANT COACH
Coach Mcmanus joins the Indian staff as our new quarterback coach. He has spent the last 5 seasons at Kent State University where he was the Assistant Head Coach. Coach Mcmanus recruited our very own Dri Archer while he was at Kent State. Prior to Kent State, he was the runningbacks coach at East Carolina University where he coached Larry Shannon our defensive coordinator.
In four seasons as head coach of the Indians, John Peacock has compiled a 42-10 record. As he enters his fifth season at the helm, Coach Peacock continues to build upon the foundation set in 2007.
For his first year efforts, Coach Peacock received high accolades from his fellow coaches, the press, and community members by being named the SNN/PAL Coach of the Year, District Coach of the Year, and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune Coach of the Year. He is the only person to receive both coach and player of the year awards by the Herald. In 2010, Coach Peacock was named the National Strength Coach of the Year by American Football Monthly.
