Ream’s coaching career at Benjamin ends at 37 years
The longest tenured coach in Palm Beach County, Ron Ream has retired after spending the past 37 years as Benjamin’s football coach.
During his illustrious career with the Bucs, Ream accumulated a 241-141 record and led the Bucs to two state runner-up finishes in 1992 and 1994. He spent 43 total years as the school, serving as the defensive coordinator for six seasons before being promoted.
Ream, who also served as the school’s athletic director from 1981-2010, was inducted into the Florida Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2014. He is also a member of the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame.
“There were a lot of factors, and I’ve been contemplating this for a couple of months now,” Ream said. “I really didn’t come down to the final decision until 4 p.m. [Sunday]. I looked at my age — I’ll be 70 in March. My wife’s been retired nine years and she’s wishing I was retired too.”
“This was a very good year. We had a wonderful season with a wonderful group of guys, and I couldn’t have been happier. Going out on a high note I felt was important. I thought the timing was right.”
In his final season leading the Palm Beach Gardens’ private school, Ream guided the team to an 8-3 record with an appearance in the Class 3A regional finals. Led by Louisville quarterback commit Jordan Travis, who earned Lou Groza High School Player of the Year honors, the Bucs won their first regional playoff game since 2005, topping Everglades Prep 43-6 before falling to eventual state champion Chaminade-Madonna.
Ream also coached the baseball team from 1978-95 and still works as a math teacher at the school. Ream, who’s had numerous former players come back and coach with him, said the football community and tightknit bond is what he loved most during his career.
Leonard hires Chattin as football coach
John I. Leonard has hired Keith Chattin as its football coach.
Chattin previously spent the past five seasons as the head coach at Tampa’s Lennard High School. He takes over for Kevin Fleury, who stepped down after four seasons with the school. The Lancers are coming off a 1-9 season.
A Georgia native, Chattin has spent the past 16 seasons coaching in Georgia and Florida. Offensively, he runs an up-tempo, no huddle offense.
Chattin will be tasked with taking over a John I. Leonard program that had struggled to compete with the county’s top programs. The school, which last made the postseason in 2010, has just one playoff win to its name, back in 1989.
Mays leaves Lake Worth for Lakes AD job
Micah Mays has stepped down as Lake Worth’s football coach after two seasons with the program.
Mays will become the new athletic director at Palm Beach Lakes. He will begin that job in January.
“I wanted to be in administration, so it was move in the right direction for me,” Mays said.
The Trojans are coming off a tough 2017 season, finishing 0-10. Mays, who took over for Jessie Hester two years ago, went 4-5 in his first season at the school.
The school has only won two playoff games ever and last made the postseason in 2010.