Bayshore High School names former NFL player from Bradenton as its new football coach

Bayshore High School has hired a former NFL player as its next head football coach.

Former Manatee High and South Carolina star Ace Sanders, who played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, was announced as the Bruins’ next coach.

Sanders replaces Jamaal Sanders, who recently resigned to take a non-coaching position at another county school for the upcoming school year.

Jamaal Sanders had led Bayshore’s football team since 2020.

It’s Ace Sanders’ first head coaching position in the area. According to a news release, Sanders has his first team meeting on Monday at 3 p.m. at the school.

At South Carolina, Sanders was an explosive punt returner and wide receiver. In 2012, he was an All-SEC first team member as a return specialist and a second team member for all-purpose.

Bayshore High hires former NFL player

Sanders set a program record for punt return yards in a season with 429 and averaged 15.3 yards per punt return. That average ranked him fourth in the country. He had a 70-yard punt return for a touchdown against Georgia, a 50-yarder against LSU and a scorching performance against Michigan in the Outback Bowl.

In the bowl game, Sanders had nine catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns and had a 63-yard punt return for a score in garnering game MVP honors.

Sanders had 57 receptions for 539 yards and one touchdown during his two NFL seasons with the Jaguars.