Longtime Plant High football coach resigns; heading for Toledo

TAMPA, Fla. - After 16 years as the head football coach of Plant High School, Robert Weiner announced he is resigning to take a college-level job.

FOX 13’s Kevin O’Donnell learned Weiner met with the football team Thursday morning to make his announcement. He is leaving to take an offensive assistant coach position at the University of Toledo.

The Plant Panthers have a reputation for winning in Hillsborough County. During the 16 seasons under Weiner’s guidance, the team earned 14 district titles, four state titles, and two runner-up finishes. 

In October, Weiner was suspended by the Florida High School Athletic Association after the school self-reported a violation. Weiner and Misty Winters, director of football operations, arranged housing for a player with someone on his staff. The player’s legal guardian was out-of-state, which is viewed as an impermissible benefit to a student-athlete.

At the time, Weiner said he did it because the student’s prior living situation was untenable. He appealed, and the suspension was reduced to three games. Weiner was still fined $5,000.