Byce Passes the Baton to Mathis to Lead Brookwood Track and Field

There will be a new face leading the Brookwood Track and Field team for the 2024 season. Dr. Randy Watts has announced that Mario Mathis will ascend to the role of head coach immediately following the end of this season. Dr. Watts states, “Coach Mathis is a strong leader and will be able to further our track program. He has an excellent combination of athletic experience, coaching skill, and rapport with students. He will make the program engaging for our students while he pushes them to excel.”

Future Athletic Director Will Dettor is equally optimistic about the transition, as he said, “I’m very excited about the direction our track and field program is headed here at Brookwood. There is a great deal of energy surrounding the program that has been built under Coach Byce’s leadership, and Coach Mathis is the perfect person to carry that forward and continue our competitive track and field tradition.”

 

Coach Mathis originally joined the Brookwood community as a girls basketball assistant coach in 2019 and has held that role for the past four seasons. The following year he became a full-time faculty member in the physical education department, as well as joining the football and girls soccer coaching staffs. This season was his first season as an assistant coach on the track and field staff. Mathis is a 2016 graduate of the University of Central Florida with a Bachelors of Science in Communication and Social Science. At UCF, he was a member of the football team for four seasons, and played his final year of eligibility for Florida State University as a graduate transfer. Mathis is also a 2013 graduate of Thomasville High School, where he played football, basketball, baseball, soccer, and track and field.

 

Coach Mathis states, “I am blessed this year to work as an assistant to Coach Byce. Learning from him this year will make next year a smooth transition. While I do have some big shoes to fill, I am certainly looking forward to the challenge. Track is a popular sport here and we are looking to become even more competitive. I am excited to use my certification in speed and agility to continue to develop great Warrior athletes through track. I am very thankful to Dr. Watts and the Brookwood family for this opportunity. Go Warriors!”

 

Coach Mathis will replace Coach Bill Byce, who has led the Brookwood Track and Field team for the past 10 years. During his time as head coach, Byce has grown the track and field team from a small number of middle school athletes his first season to this year’s 44 upper school athletes. He has coached multiple state champions along the way, including current senior Destin Moore, who is the reigning back to back state champion in the 100-meter dash.

 

Coach Byce states, “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as the Track and Field coach at Brookwood School. It has been fulfilling to help these athletes grow in their craft. I am more than confident that Mario Mathis will take the program and continue its growth. He has a high level of passion and knowledge for athletic development.”