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Bozeman High School has the best athletes and coaches of all time

Coaches who maximize their players' potential and an athlete who has brought new success are among the very best at Bozeman High.

Today we dive into the fifth installment of the News Herald series, “High School Athletics Mount Rushmore.” The series features all six Bay County schools and highlights the notable and important figures in the athletic programs at each school.

Historic season Griffin is Coach of the Year as Bozeman's offensive power leads to dominant season

Brand new program reaches new heights Bozeman Cheerleading takes second place in the program’s second year

The Mountain's players and coaches are defined by their impact on the program, the community and beyond. We at the News Herald value our readers and would like to include you.

Each article is accompanied by a poll where you can vote for someone you think would take fifth place on the mountain.

Chandler Burkett

At 6'3″ and 230 pounds, Burkett was hard to miss as he dominated the football field. In three seasons, he totaled 250 tackles, nine sacks and 61 TFLs. Burkett was named first team All-State and Bay County Defensive Player of the Year in his final season. He was a key figure in leading the Bucks to a then-best eight wins in the regular season.

Burkett, a three-star prospect in 2013, transferred to Maryland, where he played for five seasons and totaled 76 tackles, 4½ sacks and 13 TFLs.

Jason Griffin

Jason Griffin coached football in Bozeman for six years, compiling a 38-27 record. The “quarterback whisperer” and offensive guru had his best year in 2023, when he led the Bucks to a 12-1 record and a Class 1R semifinal appearance.

Bozeman's offense averaged 32.2 points per game and was led by quarterback Peyton Gay, who rushed for 2,665 yards, 35 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Gay also ran for another 777 yards and five touchdowns. Gay will transfer to Texas A&M in the fall.

The offense also included Chance Jenkens, who ran for 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns and will play as a walk-on at Southern Mississippi.

Jeff Patton

Patton is a mainstay of Bozeman Athletics, leading the baseball program for 16 years. With a record of 363-138, Patton has led the Bucks to over 20 wins in 10 seasons.

Under Patton's leadership, the Bucks have won seven district titles, two regional championships, and made two state championship appearances. During that time, over 20 Bucks players have received scholarships to play college baseball.

Courtney Russ

Russ, a junior cheerleading coach for five years, saw the success of the local cheerleading teams and wanted to bring it to Bozeman. In 2023, she generated enough interest at the school to start a non-floor exercise competition team. In the inaugural season, the Bucks advanced through regional competitions and placed seventh at state.

Already in his second season, Bozeman made his breakthrough and took second place at the Class 1A (large, non-tumbling) state championships.

Banji Bamidele is a sports reporter for the Panama City News Herald. Reach him at [email protected] or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @AdebanjiBamide1.

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