Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Veteran Dwyer coach steps aside
After racking up 2 state titles, 19 playoff appearances over 23 years, Daniels leaves position
After a 23-year run in which he won 234 games, two state titles and helped build Dwyer into a state powerhouse, Jack Daniels is stepping down as the Panthers’ football coach.
Daniels, who led Dwyer to state titles in 2009 and 2013, guided the school to 19 playoff appearances in his 23 years and never had a losing season. During his tenure, the Panthers’ coach sent more than 100 players to college programs and seven players to the NFL.
Daniels said he had been mulling the decision for a while and that now was the right time to step down.
“The fact I have a daughter starting middle school and I have a nine-year-old boy and seven-year-old girl that have grown up so fast that I want to seize the opportunity to spend as much time with them as I can,” Daniels said.
“[Stepping down] was something I felt like doing all season. I was pushing through, pushing through and trying to get to the end. When you don’t enjoy Friday nights and you don’t enjoy the wins — it’s time to find something else to do.”
The Panthers are coming off an 11-2 season in which they captured the District 13-7A title. Dwyer fell in the Class 7A regional finals to St. Thomas Aquinas, 35-0.
Daniels said he’ll still teach at Dwyer, but
currently has no plans for coaching.
A former University of Florida walk-on cornerback, Daniels was hired by Dwyer in 1996 to take over a program that had never won a playoff game. He quickly turned it into one of Palm Beach County’s premier teams.
After missing out on the playoffs in his first three seasons, the Panthers broke through in 1999, beginning a 15-year streak of playoff appearances. The following season, Dwyer reached the Class 5A state title game before falling to Venice.
Daniels soon took the program to another level, guiding the team to four consecutive state semifinal appearances from 2008-11. In 2009, he guided a roster filled with future NFL players to the school’s firstever state title.
Led by star quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who started 15 games for the Indianapolis Colts last season, and future NFL firstround draft pick Matt Elam (Baltimore Ravens), the Panthers hammered Niceville 42-14 in the Class 4A state title game. Daniels earned Sam Budnyk Coach of the Year honors for the second straight season following that victory.
During his tenure, Daniels coached five additional future NFL players in tight end Nick O’Leary (Dolphins), wide receiver Tommylee Lewis (Saints), linebacker Curt Maggitt (Colts), tight end Gerald Christian (Bills) and offensive tackle Rashad Butler (Texans/Browns).
“I got to coach a lot of great kids,” Daniels said. “Not just great football players, but great people. You develop relationships with my coaches and everyone you get to meet along the way. You get to meet so many great people.
The relationships with kids are special – guys are in the pros, the guys that are now doctors. That’s the great thing about it.”
In 2013, Daniels captured his second state title as the Panthers finished a perfect 15-0. Led by Ohio State wide receiver Johnnie Dixon and former FAU quarterback Daniel Parr, Dwyer topped Niceville once again in the state final, winning 55-39 to take home the Class 7A championship. The Panthers finished the season ranked No. 16 in the country by MaxPreps.
College coaches took note of Daniels’ dominance as he had multiple opportunities to jump to the next level, but elected to stay at Dwyer. Most notably, he was approached in 2014 by former FAU coach Charlie Partridge about joining his staff as the defensive backs coach. Daniels also had the opportunity early in his career to become a graduate assistant at Arizona, but chose to stay in Palm Beach Gardens.
In addition to his duties at Dwyer, Daniels coached in the prestigious Under Armour All-American Game the past three seasons. On Jan. 3, he was the defensive coordinator for the exhibition in Orlando.