This Manatee County athletic director calls it a career after 30-plus years
Kenny Ansbro’s passion for Palmetto High and the city of Palmetto began long ago.
Born in Gary, Ind., Ansbro relocated to Palmetto as a middle school student. He attended Lincoln Middle before becoming a student-athlete for the Palmetto Tigers, playing basketball under former head coach Butch Hughes.
Then in 1986, Ansbro’s career in education and athletic coaching began.
And now, as his 34th season approaches — the last 10 1/2 as Palmetto High’s athletic director — Ansbro is retiring.
“I always wanted to look at my performance,” Ansbro said.. “I wanted to make sure I’m not one of those guys that’s extended his time.”
Ansbro’s path to coaching came after he arrived to Palmetto in the 1970s. Hughes and former Lincoln High star Robert Hamilton made a big impact on Ansbro’s life, becoming mentors.
“Those two guys showed me that there’s so many kids out there that need people, need adults, need mentors,” Ansbro said. “Just that helping hand. ... That always stuck with me. Those guys were your fathers outside of home. They taught you the right way. Coach Hamilton was soft spoken, very mild-mannered guy. Still to this day a friend of mine. Unbelievable person. Butch Hughes was the opposite. Very fiery, disciplinarian ... Those guys, still, no matter their discipline or demeanor was they taught you the same message. You knew they loved you, you knew they cared about you.”
Those styles and personalities left a mark on Ansbro that he carried into his own coaching career, which included several sports. Basketball, though, was Ansbro’s main sport that he coached at Palmetto High. First as an assistant and then as a head coach for several seasons, before he became the school’s athletic director in November 2009.
As far as his legacy goes, Ansbro said he hopes he’s remembered for putting others first.
“I just was raised not to look at yourself first. Don’t put yourself first, put others first. I would hope that I would be remembered as a person who was there for the coaches and our staff members and our kids. Putting them first, I’ve always looked out for coaches.”
Lakewood Ranch High principal Dustin Dahlquist, who was a longtime boys soccer coach at Palmetto, agreed as did head football coach Dave Marino.
“First and foremost, he was always there for the kids, for the students,” Dahlquist said. “The kids he has coached over the years, so many have become successful in their adult lives. He always had their interest first, no matter who they were, no matter where they came from. I think Coach Ansbro is pretty much universally loved in the Palmetto zone over there by so many different people.”
Added Marino: “He’s a Tiger through and through. He went to school there. He’s taught, coached. He’s never been anywhere else. That’s his life. That’s an unbelievable commitment and time spent just dedicating himself to that community and that school. ... He embraced me as if I was Palmetto through and through when I first got there. I couldn’t be more grateful for having that kind of support.”
Marino, who is entering his 11th year as Palmetto’s head football coach, said Ansbro was a coach’s athletic director.
Dahlquist, who has known Ansbro for years, said Ansbro could make any situation funny. One example is when Palmetto hosted Bayshore in boys soccer right before Christmas break several years ago. The game was played during the afternoon.
During the game, the ball bounced out right at Ansbro, who proceeded to get Bayshore athletic director Chris Brady to break from his laid back demeanor.
“He just ran up and kicked the ball all the way up into the scoreboard,” Dahlquist said. “It hits off the scoreboard and bounces off the sidewall. And under most circumstances, you’re going to get a tech, right? The referees don’t even flinch. They don’t do anything. And Chris Brady came off the bench, yelling, screaming. Right after the game, we had a pretty good laugh.”
Dahlquist added, “He always brought levity to a situation.”
Ansbro’s retirement goes in effect in a couple weeks after transitioning out of the school he’s been connected to since 1974. The school district will fill the vacancy in the coming weeks.
Ansbro, meanwhile, will have more time to spend with family, which includes hi wife Diana and son Kenny, who is in the United States Air Force and stationed in Pensacola.
