COACHES | venice-football2

JOHN PEACOCK - HEAD COACH

Coach Peacock enters his 27th year in the Venice teaching and coaching community. Coach Peacock has helped over 100 student athletes become collegiate football players totaling over 30 million dollars in scholarships. Coach Peacock was born and raised in Venice. Coach Peacock and his beautiful wife Georgia have 6 children and 8 grand kids.

Education

BS – Georgia Southern
Masters – National Louis University (Summa Cum Laude)

Playing Experience

1989-1992 Cardinal Mooney HS
1993 – 1995 East Carolina University
1995-1997 Georgia Southern University

Coaching Record

186 - 44
18 consecutive Play-off appearances
11 District Championships
8 Regional Championships
8 Final Fours
7 Top 100 Finishes
2 State Runner-Up
3 State Championship

COACHING HONORS

National Strength and Cond COY - 2010
FACA Coach of the Year – 10 times
Herald tribune Coach of the Year – 2007, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2024
Dairy farmers 7A Coach of the Year – 2017 & 2024
Dairy Farmers Florida Coach of the Year - 2017

LARRY SHANNON - DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

Originally from Starke, Fl, Coach Shannon is our defensive coordinator and Assistant Athletic Director. He is entering his 20th 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 11.2 points per game the past three seasons. 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.

As a player, Coach Shannon was a very successful athlete. From 1993 to 1997 he was an outstanding wide receiver for the East Carolina Pirates. Upon graduating from ECU with a B.S. in Business Administration in 1997, he was drafted by the Miami Dolphins. Coach Shannon was in the Dolphins organization from 1998 to 2000, in 2000 he went to the Oakland Raiders, and in 2002 was with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He received his Masters in Exercise and Sports Science in 2004 from ECU. Coach Shannon was an assistant coach at ECU from 2003-2004. He has been a coach and teacher at Venice High School since 2004.

Larry is married to Kweli Shannon and has four children: Jannah, a VHS graduate who is proudly serving in the United States Navy, Larry David, Aaliyah, and Sophia.

TIM WEIDLEIN - INSIDE LINEBACKERS

Born and raised in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico Coach Weidlein enters his 16th 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. In 2009 Coach Weidlein completed his masters in Physical Education at the University of South Florida.

Coach Weidlein will be teaching PE and Leadership at Student Leadership Academy. He has also been the Head Coach of the Girls Track and Field team and Boys Weightlifting team. He is excited that he has become a part of the Venice football family and is excited for the upcoming season. Coach Weidlein is married to the former Amber Krug, who is a teacher at Venice High School. They have a son Troy and a daughter Alivia.

CLAY BURTON - HEAD STRENGTH & CONDITIONING/TIGHT ENDS

Born in Atlanta, Georgia but raised in Venice, Florida, Coach Burton is entering his 8th season on the Venice High School football staff. He is the Head of Strength and Conditioning as well as the Tight Ends coach. Coach Burton is a 2011 Venice High School graduate. During his time as a student at VHS, Burton was a team captain and recipient of the Jim Powell Team MVP Award. He also earned all-area and all-state honors.

After graduation, Coach Burton attended the University of Florida on a full athletic scholarship where he played Tight End and lettered all four years. Coach Burton graduated with a Major in Criminology and Minor in Educational Studies. Post-graduation, Coach Burton had a brief stint in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills.

Coach Burton is a Social Studies teacher on campus and enjoys positively influencing his students and athletes. Along with coaching football, he is also the Head Boys Weightlifting Coach. Coach Burton was named the 2019 Herald Tribune Boys Weightlifting Coach of the Year. Coach Burton has been fortunate enough to be a part of 4 State Championship teams during his tenure at VHS (2017 & 2021 Football and 2018 & 2019 Baseball).

He is married to Dali Burton, a former National Champion Gymnast that he was lucky enough to meet at the University of Florida. Clay and Dali have two daughters, Kayna and Nellie.

Coach is extremely proud and thankful to be a part of the Venice Football staff and is excited for the upcoming season.

SASCHA HYER - DEFENSIVE LINE

Sascha Hyer is entering his 13th season at VHS. This is Coach Hyer’s 30th season coaching football. After finishing his playing career at Shepherd College, he started his coaching career as the TE coach at Shepherd. From there he was the offensive line coach at West Virginia Tech. He then spent 2 years at Wesley College as the OL coach.. In 2002 Coach Hyer moved to Florida as the defensive coordinator at North Port High. He spent 5 years as an assistant coach and then in 2007 became the head coach. Prior to coming to Venice, Coach Hyer was the offensive coordinator at Port Charlotte High.

Along with being an Assistant Football Coach, for the past 9 years Coach Hyer is also the Head Girls Weightlifting Coach. The Iron Indians have been growing ever since. In the 2021-2022 season, Coach Hyer help lead the girls to Venice’s first ever FHSAA District Weightlifting Title. As well as the Lady Iron Indians have been County Champions the last 4 years. Coach Hyer is also a member of the Social Studies Department at Venice. Sascha is happily married to his wife, Kristen, for the last 26 years. Kristen and Sascha are the proud parents of Jacob and Maggie Hyer.

Jake is a Junior at the University of West Florida studying Music Education. He is a member of the UWF Singers, Argo Choir and is a UWF Ambassador. Maggie is a Junior at Venice High School participating on the Girls Weightlifting Team as well as helping Athletic Trainer Steve Bennett as a Student Trainer.

- QUARTERBACKS

LUCIAS L. BONNER JR. - RUNNING BACKS

Coach Bonner will be starting his first season at Venice High School as this year’s Varsity Running Back Coach. He has been coaching High School football since 1997. He has coached previously at Cardinal Mooney, Booker and Sarasota High Schools all at the Varsity level.

Coach Bonner after graduating from Sarasota High school in 1980, entered the United States Marine Corp where he served our Country for four (4) years. After being honorably discharged from the military he started his Law Enforcement Career with the Sarasota Police Department where he served for thirty (30) years, retiring as a Police Captain.

Coach Bonner, while working and raising his family, attended Saint Leo University where he graduated Magnum Cum Laude and obtained a Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice.

Coach Bonner and his wife Jennifer, have been married for thirty (33) years and have two adult sons and one daughter. When not, coaching football he enjoys watching football, fishing and traveling

LUCIUS L. BONNER JR. - RUNNING BACKS

Coach Bonner will be entering his 5th season at Venice High School as this year’s Varsity Running Back Coach. He has been coaching High School football since 1997. He has coached previously at Cardinal Mooney, Booker and Sarasota High Schools all at the Varsity level.

Coach Bonner, while working and raising his family, attended Saint Leo University where he graduated Magnum Cum Laude and obtained a Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice.

Coach Bonner and his wife Jennifer, have been married for thirty (33) years and have two adult sons and one daughter. When not, coaching football he enjoys watching football, fishing and traveling

BRIAN HATLER - DEFENSIVE BACK COACH

Coach Hatler is entering his 4th year after returning to Venice High School in 2020. He was the Head Football Coach at North Port High School from 2015 through 2019. He was the Offensive Coordinator at Arvada West High School from 2002 - 2014. Arvada West made nine playoff appearances during that time including trips to the state semi-finals in 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2009. His coaching experience in Florida includes stops at Port Charlotte High School, Hardee High School, and Venice High School including the Florida 5A State Title at Venice High School in 2000. His coaching career began in Colorado as a running back and defensive back coach at Littleton and Arapahoe High School.

As a player Coach Hatler was a four year starter as a free safety for Western State College in Colorado. He was recognized as an Academic All American, Pre Season All American, and All Conference player.

He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology in 1988 and added a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership in 2002. He teaches Physical Education at Venice High School. His daughter Tayla is a North Port High School graduate and is pursuing a degree in elementary education.

JAMES BOERKOEL - DEFENSIVE BACKS COACH

Born and raised in Royal Oak, Michigan. Coach Boerkoel was an All-State Diver in High School at Royal Oak Dondero He trained 3 summers with Ron O ‘Brian US Olympic Diving Coach 1973, 1974 and 1975.

Coach Boerkoel is an United State Air Force Veteran. He received a degree in Business Management, and was an employee of General Motors Engineering Management for 38 yeas. (Retired May of 2021).

Coaching - this will be the 38th year of coaching High School Football. He served roles as: Defensive Coordinator, Defensive Back, Linebackers and Special Teams Coordinator

Birmingham Brother RIce High School 1984 - 2011

4 - Michigan High School State Championships 1990,200,2005, 2011

8 - State Championship Appearances.

20 - Play-off Appearances

Birmingham Seaholm High School - 2012 - 2015

2 - Play-off Appearances

Auburn Hills Avondale High School - 2016 - 2018

2 - Play-off Appearances

Madison Heights Lamphere High School – 2019

Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes High School – 2020 - 2021

1 - Play-off Appearance

Venice High School, Venice Florida 2021

State Championship 2021

This will be Coach Boerkoel's 1st year as a full time Coach at Venice.

23 year old son Blair Boerkoel 4 Sport High School Athlete

Wrestling at Alma College

Rugby at Ferris State University

JOSH HUNTER - OFFENSIVE LINE COACH

Coach Hunter will be entering his 5th year working with the Venice Offensive Line. He started his coaching career at Lakewood Ranch High School and was the first Head Coach at Braden River High School. Coach Hunter is a 1996 graduate of Southeast High School, playing on Back to Back State Championship Football Teams. Coach Hunter earned his degree from Eastern Kentucky University where he started as a true freshman, was all conference 3 years in a row and was named an All-American. He has also coached 8 weightlifters to state titles over the course of his career. Coach Hunter had been married to the love of his life Anne for over 20 years.

DENZEL NICKERSON - WR COACH

Coach “Deuce” is originally from Chicago, Illinois but attended High-school in Gainesville Florida playing for the Great Kent Johnson at the Mighty Eastside High-school Fighting Rams where he was a team captain and learned his “hard but fair” coaching style earning a opportunity to continue his academic & athletic career at Florida A&M University , where he later transferred to Florida Memorial University in Miami Florida, there is where he joined his fraternity Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. And received his Bachelors degree in Communications before getting his Masters (MBA) in Athletic Administration from Ohio University.

He has been coaching football going into his 6th year with successful stops in Bartow (Polk) Houston Texas , Auburndale Fl (Polk County) , Bloomingdale(Tampa) most recently the last two seasons Carrollwood Day School(Tampa) where he has served as a DB coach/Secondary Coordinator, Co-Offensive Coordinator , Special Teams Coordinator and WR Coach & Pass Game Coordinator.

Over the years he has built a reputation on getting his players recruited, coaching hard and most importantly loving his players harder while preparing them for the next level by teaching life schools through the game of football equipping them with tools for success.

During his brief coaching career, he has helped over 100 student athletes earn athletic scholarships including the largest signing class in Bloomingdale History (23) after going 12-1 capturing a Regional title and 100 % of the senior class at Carrollwood Day this past season (9) after another regional championship appearance.

In the off-season for the past 5 years, Deuce is the Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator for the 4 x National Championship winning 7v7 program Prime Truth Florida, a national all-star team made up of elite players from around the state of Florida that travels and competes on a nationally stage, allowing those young men to see colleges and life outside of the state of Florida, with notable alumni currently at or committed to FSU, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Georgia ,Colorado and UCF.

Coach is entering his first season here at Venice where he will be the Pass Game Coordinator and Wide Receivers coach, where he plans to bring tenacity and a supreme attention to detail to the WRs nicknamed the “Air Force”

He is excited and feeling “Truly Blessed” about his first season on “The Island” and is ready to do his part to help the Indians win a National and State Championship this season!

CLINT CALHOUN - MOTIVATIONAL COACH

Clint has been apart of the Venice Football staff for over a decade. He is currently the Motivational Coach for the Indians, inspiring and motivating our Indians. During any given week you can find him getting the players motivated before every practice, giving pregame speeches every Thursday, and walking up and down the sidelines ever Friday night cheering on our Indians. Clint is what it truly means to be a Venice Indian and we are lucky to have him apart of our staff.

STEVE BENNETT - HEAD ATHLETIC TRAINER

Steve is entering his 6th year at Venice as the Athletic Trainer. He spent the previous 13 years at North Port. Other past experiences include being the Assistant Athletic Trainer and Adjunct Professor at the University of Tampa and 3 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers under Head Athletic Trainerr Todd Torocelli.