Manatee High alum Brion Carnes returns as QB coach

Brion Carnes is back home.

The former Manatee High quarterback joined the Hurricanes coaching staff as their quarterbacks coach, according to Manatee High Football’s Facebook page.

Carnes produced a memorable Manatee career. As a four-year starter under former coach Joe Kinnan, Carnes threw for more than 6,000 yards and almost 50 touchdowns while tallying a 39-12 record.

Arguably the banner season, though, came in Carnes’ senior year in 2009 when he produced nearly 2,500 passing yards and 24 touchdowns in leading the Canes to the Class 5A state championship game.

That playoff run, which ended with a loss to Tampa Plant in the final, was highlighted by a 28-20 home victory over perennial state title favorite Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas.

After former University of South Florida head coach Skip Holtz pulled Carnes’ scholarship offer, he headed to Nebraska to play for the Cornhuskers and follow the path his cousin, “Touchdown” Tommie Frazier, took in the 1990s.

However, Carnes didn’t appear in many games while at Nebraska and transferred to Northern Iowa in 2013 to finish his NCAA career. He played in all 12 games that season, starting the final three at quarterback.

After his playing career, Carnes spent time coaching at Saint Stephen’s in mentoring current Falcons quarterback Fred Billy.

Falcons head coach Tod Creneti said he holds Carnes in high regard concerning his ability to mentor young players.

“Brion’s a guy who just brightens the room. Brion walks in. Everybody feels better. He comes to work. He’s great with the kids and that’s his alma mater. How do you not want to go back and coach at your alma mater?”

Creneti said he recommended Carnes to Manatee’s new head coach, Yusuf Shakir. Creneti knows Shakir from their days together in St. Petersburg. Creneti was at St. Petersburg Catholic. Shakir was at Gibbs.

“When I see somebody who is a professional and established like Shakir, and I can connect him a guy who’s really wanting to get started like Brion, that’s a win-win for everyone.”

Sports writer David Wilson contributed to this report.

This story was originally published August 1, 2017 at 11:43 AM with the headline "Manatee High alum Brion Carnes returns as QB coach."