Head Football Coach Fired By Manatee High School; No Reason Given

Updated: 10 a.m., Saturday

BRADENTON, FL — After leading Manatee High School’s football program for the past four years, Coach Yusuf Shakir has been let go, the team announced on its Facebook page Thursday. No reason was provided for the decision.

During his time with Manatee, Shakir won his 100th career game, according to the program’s Facebook post. He also led the Hurricanes to back-to-back District 7A championships and won five playoff games.

"We have decided that it is in the best interest of our school, our players and our football program to make a change at this time," Principal David Underhill said in a statement. "While this is a very difficult decision, we stand firm that it is the right thing to do. We thank Coach Shakir for his service to Manatee High School."

The principal had no additional information to release about the coach's firing.

"As we work with our boosters, assistant coaches, athletes and their parents we will release a timeline (for finding a new coach,)" he told Patch.

Shakir's record during his time at Manatee High was 29-16. The school’s varsity football team is currently ranked No. 36 in the state after ending last season with an 8-2 record, according to MaxPreps.

In April 2020, Shakir, along with the head coaches for Palmetto and Lakewood Ranch, were suspended and fined by the Florida High School Athletic Association for recruiting violations, the Herald-Tribune reported. About 30 middle school students from Lincoln Memorial Academy attended Manatee training sessions and toured the practice fields, weight room and locker room.

When he was hired in 2017 to replace John Booth, Shakir was selected from a pool of about 130 applicants, according to the Manatee football program’s website.

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Prior to joining Manatee High School, he spent eight seasons at Tallahassee Lincoln High School, where he had a 71-32 record. He led the Trojans to a Class4A state title in 2010. The team was a Class 7A runner-up in 2012.

Shakir also coached at St. Petersburg’s Gibbs High School for two years, leading the team to the playoffs in 2007.

Patch contacted Manatee High School's principal David Underhill for additional information.