GBHS coach steps down
Clayton starts next week at Athletes Performance
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

Clayton

A long time fixture at Gulf Breeze High is leaving Dolphin Country this week, although he won't be too far away.

Bobby Clayton, a GBHS graduate who's been coaching at his alma mater for the past five years, is leaving at week's end to take a job with Athletes Performance, a company working with the Andrews Institute.

Athletes Performance is a company that helps pro a t h l e t e s stay in top shape d u r i n g their offs e a s o n . Some of its most f a m o u s c l i e n t s i n c l u d e Ta m p a Bay Devil Ray All Star Carl Crawford, Mario Williams (the top overall pick in last year's NFLDraft) and current Tampa Bay Buccaneer Carnell Williams.

It also provides high school and college athletes the same level of training. Clayton, a former quarterback with the Pensacola Barracudas, will be working with AP's Sales and Marketing department.

"That was the hardest part about the decision," Clayton said, referring to his leaving kids he's known since they were freshman.

Although his final day is Friday, Clayton said he'll stay with the ninth grade baseball team until their season ends on April 10.

"He didn't want to leave the kids hanging," head baseball coach Randy Renfroe said. "Bobby's going to be a tremendous loss. He always did a good job for us. He did a good job getting them ready for the varsity level."

Another hat Clayton wore at GBHS was the football team's offensive coordinator.

"When I first took this job, one of the first people I wanted to talk with was Bobby," GBHS football coach Chris Nemith said, adding that his competitiveness and passion for the game were his key attributes.

"Obviously, it's going to change the personality of our football program."

He also leaves behind five PE classes at the high school, a spot principal Sylvan Ladner said will be replaced by a substitute teacher until the end of the school year.

"Bobby's a great person of character," Ladner said. "He's very cooperative with the teachers and he's done a good job coaching the kids in football and baseball."