Mandarin High School Athletics
MEET OUR COACHES
Bobby Ramsay
Head Varsity Football
Prior to Mandarin, Coach Ramsay was head coach at Yulee High School from 2008 – 2016, qualifying for the playoffs 4 times and advancing to the state semifinals in 2012. He coached Derrick Henry, who set the all time national career rushing record, and also won the 2015 Heisman and was the 2019 NFL Rushing Leader. Ramsay also has previous stops as an assistant at First Coast High School, Trinity (TX) University, and Tallahassee Lincoln High School. He attended and played football at McMurry University in Abilene (TX) from 1997-2000, becoming a team MVP and captain, and playing for nationally ranked teams in 1998 and 1999.
George McCleod
Head Varsity Boys Basketball
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 fifth 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 District Championship and first playoff appearance since 2007. He is currently in his 18th 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.
Natalia Gonzalez
Head Softball
Coach Natalia Gonzalez enters her 17th year as the Head Softball Coach at Mandarin High School. Throughout her years at Mandarin she has compiled a record of 328-106, while guiding the Mustangs to 11 District Championships, 9 Gateway Conference Championships and 2 State Final Four appearances. 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.
Ashley Hellett
Head Coach of the Bowling team, JV Girl’s Soccer, and Asst. Varsity Lacrosse
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!
Sidney Dent
Head Girls Cross Country
During Coach Dent’s tenure as Mandarin’s Girls XC head coach, the team has been Gateway Champions 4 times and runners up 2 times. They have been District Champions 3 times and Runners up 4 times. They have placed top 4 at Regionals 4 times and have been State contenders 4 times. This most recent season, in 2019, 5 varsity girls broke 20:00 minutes in the 5k making it Mandarin’s fastest overall team in the schools girls XC history. Coach Dent currently teaches in the World Language department for Mandarin. She and her husband both have a passion for coaching and sharing culture with their Spanish classes. In their spare time, they enjoy running and traveling with their family.
Steve Gonzalez
Head Track and Field
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
Mike Dingfield
Head B/G Swimming
Mike grew up in Jacksonville and swam competitively during his high school years at Wolfson and Bolles. He earned a scholarship to swim at Western Kentucky University, where he ended his swimming career ranked in their All Time Top 10 for the 50, 100 and 200 free. After college, Mike moved to Louisville, KY, where he married the love of his life, Angie. Eventually, he moved his family back home to Jacksonville and went to work at Florida Blue, where he is still employed today. In 2009, Mike was hired as an assistant coach with a local club team, the Episcopal Amberjax and in 2012, he took over the head coaching position at Mandarin High School. He has a deep love of the sport and a passion for helping student athletes succeed in the classroom, in the pool and in life. He has coached National Qualifiers and has several swimmers competing at the collegiate level. Mike and Angie have 4 children; 2 currently swim in college and the remaining 2 swim for Mandarin High as well as the Mandarin Aquatic Club.
Kaitlyn Motyka
Project 17 Athletic Trainer
Kaitlyn Motyka is Mandarin’s new full time Athletic Trainer from Project 17. She graduated with her BS in Athletic Training from UNF, and is currently seeking her Masters in Kinesiology at JU. Kaitlyn stated “I will strive to support, protect, and educate every student athlete so that they may reach their goals here at Mandarin High School. Go Mustangs!!”
Tony Cuthbertson
Head Girls Soccer
Coach Tony Cuthbertson is entering his 2nd season as the Varsity Girls Soccer Head Coach at Mandarin High School. In his first year, he lead the Mustangs to a 7-11-2 record and a regional quarterfinal birth. Tony is a graduate of the University of North Florida where he received his Bachelors of Science in Sport Management. Tony currently serves as the Director of Coaching at Florida Elite Soccer Academy Oakleaf and holds his USSF D and NSCAA National Coaching Licenses.
Jason Cooley
Head Boys Soccer
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)
Larry Yudin
Head Flag Football
Coach Yudin is in his 26th year of teaching and coaching. From 2004-2009, he was the Head Flag Football Coach at Sandalwood High School winning the inaugural Gateway Conference Flag Football Tournament in 2006. Coach Yudin also served as the Head Wrestling Coach at Sandalwood from 1999-2009 and at Mandarin from 2011-2013. He has coached flag football at Mandarin since 2010. While at Mandarin, the flag football team won consecutive conference championships from 2010-2014, and 2019; district championships from 2010-2014, qualified for multiple regional playoffs, and were State Runner-Up in 2013. Coach Yudin believes modeling high expectations leads to student’s success both in the classroom and in athletics.
Meghan Braun
Head Girls Lacrosse
Dr. Meghan Braun, Physical Therapist, is coming into her 5th season with Mandarin girls Lacrosse. Prior to coaching at Mandarin, Coach Braun has coached at many different levels from elementary to college, as well as internationally. She has began programs including The Hockaday (Dallas) middle/elementary programs, St. Augustine HS (FL), and The Bolles school (FL). She played NCAA lacrosse at The University of Dallas, where she accrued many on/off field accolades, including scoring the first goal in Texas Lacrosse History in an NCAA game. She also played this summer in the Prague Cup for a Women’s international team. She currently continues her coaching and playing love with The Lax Box, as well as recently coaching the North Florida Regional HS team at the High School national tournament in Long Island. The Mandarin Girl’s Lacrosse program has had several graduates recruited to play at the collegiate level under Coach Braun, and is continuing to become an important program for the growth of girl’s lacrosse here in North Florida.
Lindsey Eldridge
Varsity Cheerleading Coach
Lindsey Eldridge is the Varsity Cheerleading Coach. This is her third year with the Cheerleading program. Coach Eldridge is a Mandarin High School Alumni and has returned to teach Science as a Biology teacher. She has 10 years experience with Competitive Cheerleading and was a Varsity Cheerleader all four years at Mandarin. She has a huge passion for the Mustangs athletics program and can not wait to continue guiding Mandarin Cheerleading to success in their sideline and competitive teams.
Ken Arsenault
Head Boys Golf
Mandarin High Boys Golf Coach 4 seasons
Mandarin High Slow Pitch Coach 2 seasons
Mandarin High Fast Pitch JV Head Coach 2019
MHS Golf
2014 and 2015 Gateway Conference Champions
2014 and 2015 District Champions
2014 Regional Runner-up
2014 Top 12 team finish in State Championships 3A
2016 State Champion Individual Medalist
2012-present Fast Pitch Travel Ball Coach
(2) Baseball Babe Ruth State Champions 2006 and 2008
3rd place finish in the Babe Ruth Southeast Regional 2008
Asst. Varsity Baseball Briggs High School 1987
Girls Softball State Champions 2013
1994 Graduate of The Ohio State University
Agronomy Turf Management/ Business
individual Low Am. Gate Petroleum Open 2005
2 Hdcp golfer
Steve Stewart
Head Girls Golf
*Girls Golf head Coach at Terry Parker High School from 2011- 2015; Regional team appearance in 2015; Mike Houser award recipient 2014
Married to Nicole with two children, Austin and Emma.
Anthony Flynn
Head Girls Basketball
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 State and National Championship.
- 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
- 6 State Championships – Ribault 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!”
Mikayla Jackson
Head Girls Tennis
Thad Boggs
Head Boys Tennis
Coach Thad Boggs is entering his twenty third year as the Boys Tennis Coach. He has been a Physics/Chemistry Teacher at Mandarin High School since 1994. Coach Boggs graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Textile and Polymer Chemistry and from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1985 with a Master of Science degree is Systems Technology. While the Boys Tennis Coach, his teams have amassed a record of 263 – 96, two Gateway Conference Championships and one District Championship. He has been a multiple year winner of the Mike Houser Award as the Gateway Conference Coach of the Year. He was the 2016 FACA Assistant Coach of the Year. He also is entering his 23rd year as an Assistant Football and was a Boys Basketball Assistant Coach for 20 years. He has been married to the former Mary Catherine Martin since June 1974 and they have one daughter, Angela Nadeau who resides with her husband and grandson in Maryland.
Billy Bell
Head Varsity Baseball
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.
Lance Day
Head Wrestling
I was a 2008 Graduate of the Bolles School and continued my wrestling career at Rend Lake College. I was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the Georgia National Guard and later graduated from the University of North Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. Getting back into the local wrestling scene, I served as the head coach at Episcopal for 3 years as well as head assistant coach at Bolles for 3 years, guiding 10 wrestlers to the state tournament with 3 wrestlers finishing in the top 3 in the state as well as a team top 10 finish at the state tournament. Coaching young student athletes is a passion of mine and I look forward to continuing on the strong legacy of Mandarin High School athletics. I believe in creating a positive atmosphere where student athletes work hard, are highly competitive, but above all develop a love of the sport.
MHS ATHLETIC TEAMS
FALL
WINTER
SPRING
SUMMER CONDITIONING 2019
Football
Boys Cross Country
Volleyball
Girls Cross XC
FORMS & RESOURCES
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Contact
Brian Rado
Mandarin High School
- 904-260-3911 ext.1007
- 4831 Greenland Rd. Jacksonville, FL 32258