Mandarin High School Athletics

Letter from Principal

Letter from the Athletic Director

Mandarin High School Mission

MEET OUR COACHES

Natalia Gonzalez

Head Softball

Bio

Coach Natalia Gonzalez enters her 21st year as the Head Softball Coach at Mandarin High School. Throughout her years at Mandarin she has compiled a record of 381-131 while guiding the Mustangs to 12 District Championships, 10 Gateway Conference Championships and 2 State Final Four appearances. Gonzalez was named Florida Dairy Farmer’s 6A Coach of the Year in 2008 and was Mandarin High School’s Teacher of the Year in 2015. She is a graduate of the University of North Florida where she played Centerfield for the Lady Ospreys. She is currently a Physical Education teacher at Mandarin High.

George McCleod

Head Varsity Boys Basketball

Bio

George McCleod was born in South Florida and raised at the Northern tip of Broward County in Deerfield Beach. He graduated from Deerfield Beach High School in 1995 where he was a member of the boys’ basketball team, the orchestra, and the jazz band. In the fall of 1995, he was awarded a scholarship to play basketball at the University of North Florida (UNF) under the direction of Coaches Rich Zvosec and Sidney Green. In 1999 George McCleod received his Bachelors of Arts and Science majoring in Criminology with a minor in Sociology. After graduating from U.N.F., Coach McCleod began his coaching career as a men’s assistant basketball coach at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. Following his collegiate coaching career, he served as an assistant girls’ basketball coach at The Bolles School and Paxon School for Advanced Studies in Jacksonville, Florida for a total of five years. In the 2006-2007 school year he accepted his first head coaching position at Englewood High School in Jacksonville, Florida, where he also was a teacher of students with disabilities. In 2012 he led the team to its first regional playoff game in nearly 10 years. After 6 wonderful years at Englewood, Coach McCleod accepted the girls’ basketball head coaching position at Mandarin High School where he led the team to a second straight district championship and regional playoff appearance.

Coach McCleod is in his eighth year as Mandarin’s head boys’ basketball coach and is excited about the overall direction of the team, athletic department, and school. He led the Mustangs to its first back-to-back District Championships and two consecutive playoff appearance (2019 & 2020) since 2007. He is currently in his 21st year as a Duval County School Board employee. He earned his Masters degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration at Concordia University at Irvine in August of 2016. He is supported in all of his endeavors by his lovely wife Shante’ McCleod and two beautiful children, Myiah and Dylan. Coach McCleod’s philosophy is simple. We must strive to be our B.E.S.T (Being Exceptionally Special Today) in all that we do so that we may positively influence others to do the same.

Anthony Flynn

Head Girls Basketball

Bio

Anthony Flynn, a native of Jacksonville, Florida graduated from Jean Ribault High School. He continued his education at Florida A & M University where he received his bachelor’s degree in Physical Education. During his tenure with Duval County Public Schools, he taught Physical Education for 36 years (1980-2016) at various schools from middle to high school. Coach Flynn has also coached several sporting events such as basketball, football, track, and baseball to name a few. However, his love for football and basketball landed him in opportunities to coach both boys and girls gaining several accolades to his portfolio such Conference Champs to StateNational Championship.

2021 – 17 Wins & 4 Loses
2021 – District Runner-Up & Made State Playoffs

- 6 State Championships – Ribault High School

- - Boys Assistant Coach 1990, 1994, 1995
  - Girls Assistant Coach 2013, 2015, 2016

- Girls National Champion 2016 as Assistant Coach – Ribault High School
- Final Four – Boys Head Coach 2007 – Ribault High School
- Gateway Conference Champs – Boys Head Coach 2010 – Ribault High School
- Gateway Conference Champs – Boys Head Coach 2005 2006 First Coast High School

Coach Flynn believes in empowering all students to be the best person possible. He instills in his players that it takes heart, drive, academics and hard work to be the best. His motto is “The Best Is Yet to Come!

Billy Bell

Head Varsity Baseball

Bio

Billy Bell played college baseball at Florida Community College at Jacksonville, where he was a JUCO All-American in 1989. He received a scholarship to play at the University of Miami, and participated in the World Peace Games in Moscow, USSR, later that year.

Assistant varsity baseball coach at Englewood High School from 1997-1999, where he helped the Rams win it’s first state championship, and from 2003-2005. Won district title in 1998.

Head baseball coach at the Providence School from 2001-2003, where he guided the Stallions to back to back final four appearances in 2002-03 and the state title in 2003. Named FACA 1A Coach of the Year for Florida in 2003. Won district championships in 2001 and 2003.

Returned to his alma mater as head baseball coach at Sandalwood High School in 2005, where he coached until 2019, and helped the Saints win the Gateway Conference tournament in 2009, 2016 and 2017. Won district championships in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2016 and 2017. Mike Houser award recipient in 2011, 2012 and 2017.

Named Mandarin head baseball coach in 2019.

Theodore Lundy

Head Girls Tennis

Calvin McFarland

Head Boys Tennis

Tony Cuthbertson

Head Girls Soccer

Bio

Coach Tony is entering his 7^th season at the helm of the Girls Soccer Program at Mandarin High School. He has coached at the varsity and club level locally and in Indiana for 14 years. Tony is a graduate of the University of North Florida where he received his Bachelors of Science in Sport Management. He has served as a staff coach and Director of Coaching for Florida Elite Soccer Academy, currently holding his USSF D and NSCAA National Coaching licenses. Tony resides in Mandarin with his wife Jessie and 2 children Beau and Evelyn.

Jason Cooley

Head Boys Soccer

Bio

29 years of coaching experience in both club and high school soccer
• USSF National C coaching license
• USSF National Youth coaching license
• NSCAA Youth license
• Trained in CPR and First Aid
• 8 District Titles (2009,2010,2012-2017)
• 3 State Final 4 (2010,2012,2016)
• 7 Gateway Titles (2009,2011,2012,2013,2014,2017,2019)

Steve Gonzalez

Head Track and Field

Bio

Steven A. Gonzalez has coached for more than a decade in various cities in Central and Northeast Florida. Born on the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico, he moved to the States as a toddler and was raised in Jacksonville, Florida. Before graduating from Edward H. White High School, he exceled in multiple sports; including track and field, football, and soccer. Steven went on to graduate from Edward Waters College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education.

Below are a list of Steven’s Coaching Accolades.

2018 FHSAA 5A FOOTBALL STATE RUNNER UP
NORTH MARION HIGH SCHOOL

2018 FACA SERVICE AWARD 10+ YEARS.

2016 NFHS BOYS COACH OF THE YEAR -FLORIDA.
Palatka High School

2016
Coached Ka’Tia Seymour (Palatka H.S.) in the 100M with the Nation’s fastest time of 11.26 and fourth fastest time in the 200M of 23.26. Ka’Tia was awarded Florida’s Gatorade Female Athlete of the Year.

2A State Champion:
Girls: 100M, 4x100M, 200M
Boys: Discus
Runner-Up: Boys Shot Put
Boys Finished 3rd overall
Girls Finished 8th overall

2015
2A State Champion:
Discus & Shot Put
Boys placed 5th overall

2010
Coached Ryan Lankford (Paxon School of Advanced Studies) with the best High School long jump in the Nation, jumping 25’1. Ryan also had the third fastest time in the 100M with 10.41.

3 Individual AAU NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
1 Individual AAU NATIONAL RUNNER UP

State Champions
5 Individuals 1 Relay
35 State Medalists

101 District Champions
35 Regional Champions
53 Conference Champions

2 District Championships
2 Regional Championships
4 District Runner Ups

Daniel Magnusson

Head Varsity Volleyball

Bio

Coach Magnusson will enter his 3rd season leading the Mustang volleyball program with a 33-14 overall record and 2020 FHSAA 7A District 1 championship.

Coach Magnusson has extensive international coaching experience, primarily in his home country of Sweden, where he has coached professionally for over 9 years. He served as an assistant coach for Sweden’s Junior National team in 2017, earning a silver medal at the Northern European Volleyball u19 Championships in Kettering, England. From 2014-17, he was the head coach of the Women’s A-Team for the Gislaved Volleybollklub, which competed in the Elite Series. He began his coaching career with his home club, Ljungby Volleybollklubb in 2009, and led the club to their first international trip competing at the European Global Challenge in Pula, Croatia in 2018.

COACHING CAREER

2021-Present, Sports Edge Athletics, Director of Beach Volleyball
2020-Present, Mandarin HS, head coach
2019, University of South Florida, assistant coach
2018, University of North Carolina Wilmington, beach & indoor assistant coach
2017, Swedish Girls’ Junior National Team (u19), assistant coach
2014-17, Gislaved Volleybollklubb (Sweden), head coach
2009-14, Ljungby Volleybollklubb (Sweden), head coach

Nicole Pue

Head Girls Lacrosse

Bio

Coach Nicole Pue is entering her third season as head coach and extremely proud of the growth and talent the program is developing. After being an officials for Women’s Lacrosse in Central Florida for six years and watching some of the top teams in the state she wanted to try her hand at coaching. With hard work from her players and supportive parents the team has made incredible achievements. Coaching is one of her most exciting opportunities Coach Pue has been apart of. As Coach Pue continues to advance the Women’s lacrosse program at Mandarin she is always looking for share her love of lacrosse with young women. The team is looking forward to having new faces each season and welcome you into our Lacrosse Family

Will Ryan Johnson

Head Boys Lacrosse

Bio

Head Coach 14U | Fleming Island Lacrosse Club, FL | February 2018-May 2021

Volunteer Assistant Coach | St. Bernard High School | Spring 2018

Student Athlete | St. Bernard School | 2007-2012

Student Athlete | Michell College | 2012-2016

Men’s League | FLL | 2017-Current

Matt Miller

Head Boys Golf

Kevin Desrosiers

Head Girls Golf

Bio

Coach Desrosiers enters his second year as girls golf coach. He graduated with his B.S. in Science Education with a focus in Chemistry from the University of Central Florida in 2014 and has been teaching ever since. He arrived at Mandarin in 2017 eager to teach but always wanting to coach. He finally got his shot after displaying his passion for golf and enriching the lives of others.

Ben Wales

Head Wrestling

Marc Sitowitz

Head Weightlifting

Toby Bullock

Head Football

Mike Brown

Head Flag Football

Ashley Hellett

Head Bowling, Asst Flag Football

Bio

My name is Ashley Hellett and I have had the pleasure coaching at Mandarin for the last 6 years. I am the Head Coach of the Bowling team, JV Girl’s Soccer, and Asst. Varsity Lacrosse. Nothing has made me happier than earning the title of Coach. I am a sports enthusiast. I currently play rugby for the Jacksonville Sinners and I am the Baseball Operations Manager and Social Media Coordinator for the Jacksonville Indians semi-professional baseball team. Working with my student athletes is one of the greatest experience I have had. My girls teach me as much as I teach them. I am very blessed that I am coach for one of the most competitive schools in Duval County. Go Mustangs!

Jim Schmitt

Head Cross Country

Valerie Fees

Head Swim

Bio

Coach Valerie Fees is a Mandarin High Alum and has been coaching swim at Mandarin Middle since 2007. This is her first year at the high school level. She is an English teacher at Mandarin Middle and a swim coach at both Mandarin Middle and Mandarin High. The Mandarin Middle Swim and Dive team has won the Southern Division Championship several times with Coach Fees and consistently places in the top 5 at the City Championship. She is also a swim mom. She has had the opportunity to coach both of her sons in middle school and will now coach her youngest in high school.

Krista Bishop

Head Cheer

Bio

Coach Bishop is starting her first year as the Head Coach for the Mandarin High Cheerleading Program. Her story comes full circle as she was a MHS cheerleader herself. Coach Bishop personally started cheering in 1988 and it not only became a passion, but something always close to her heart. Through the years she has found herself as a cheerleader, coach, dedicated cheer mom, successful entrepreneur but is excited to get back to her roots leading the squads at MHS. She looks forward to helping the cheer program continue to develop by mastering team and athletes’ personal skills to build the program into an elite presence during sporting events and at the competition level. As well as helping to shape athletes’ character for their successful futures.
Let’s Go Mustangs *\o/*