Former Manatee High, South Carolina star wide receiver Ace Sanders hired as new Bayshore football coach

BRADENTON – One of Manatee County’s most dynamic athletes now will try to ignite a stagnant high school football program.

Tracy Lavon “Ace” Sanders is the new head football coach at Bayshore High School, school Principal Scott Cooper announced.

Sanders takes over for Jamaal Sanders, who coached the Bruins the past four seasons.

A dynamic wide receiver at Manatee High, Sanders went on to play for Steve Spurrier at the University of South Carolina, where he was a first-team all Southeastern Conference (SEC) in 2012. In three seasons with the Gamecocks, he caught 99 passes for 1,230 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushed 12 times for 72 yards. Sanders also returned 53 punts for 594 yards and three scores.

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The 5-foot-7, 173-pounder then was a fourth-round selection (101st overall) by the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars in 2013 . With the Jaguars, Sanders caught 57 passes for 538 yards and a touchdown, returned 57 punts for 367 yards and four kickoffs for 91 yards. He also completed his only pass attempt for a 21-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Todman during a Thursday night game against Houston.

The 32-year-old son of former Florida State University safety Tracy Sanders, Ace has been working at football camps and assisting with the Manatee Mustangs’ youth football program.

Bayshore will be Sanders’ first high school head coaching position.

The Bruins went 4-6 last season and were 8-28 during Jamaal Sanders’ four seasons. Bayshore has not had a winning season since 2003, going 10-2 under then coach Raymond Woodie, now the head coach at Bethune-Cookman University.

Ace Sanders is the fifth coach since Woodie, following J.P Gordon, Elijah Freeman, John Biezuns and Jamaal Sanders, who took a non-coaching position at another Manatee County school.

Ace Sanders met with returning and prospective Bayshore players Monday afternoon at the high school.

Following his playing career, Sanders and Chico Fuego started their own clothing line – De’Kulture – out of Palmetto. De’Kulture has emerged as one of West Florida’s premiere clothing brands.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Former Manatee High, South Carolina star wide receiver Ace Sanders hired as new Bayshore football coach