Mike Witmer~1965-2009

Posted by Tammy on Jul 25, 2009 in Family, SW Florida news | 0 comments

It was a hard week for Nick. One of his coaches suddenly passed away on Monday. Mike Witmer was very kind to Nick when he started playing football at his current school, and Nick has referred to him as one of the best coaches he ever had. To me, this story is a reminder to never take a single minute for granted. You never know when you might lose someone. My thoughts and prayers are with the Witmer family.

Area coaches remember Mike Witmer
By GARY BROWN
Staff Writer

Former DeSoto, Port Charlotte football and weightlifing coach died Monday from brain tumor

DeSoto High School’s football team has been a powerhouse the last few seasons and Bulldogs coach Gary Morton credits much of their success to the late Mike Witmer, who died of a brain tumor Monday night.

“He was a real hard worker,” Gary Morton said. “His biggest strength was in the weightroom where he helped our team a lot. He did a lot to help our football team and also with the weightlifting teams.”

Witmer had a seizure and collapsed at the Third Annual Southwest Florida Stronger Man powerlifting competition Saturday. A catscan revealed that he had a tumor in his brain. An operation Monday failed and he died at 10:02 p.m. that night.

Witmer coached the offense and defensive lines at both DeSoto and Port Charlotte. He also coached the schools’ weightlifting teams.

Witmer coached at DeSoto until 2005 when he went to Port Charlotte where he coached until now.

“He was the nicest guy around,” Port Charlotte High School athletic director James Vernon said. “He was a huge guy with a soft heart. He loved all the kids and he’d always come in Monday morning and have a story about the Redskins (Washington Redskins). He was a big Redskins fan.”

“He was a great person,” Port Charlotte head football coach Dave Hoffer said. “He was one of the nicest guys you’d ever meet.

“He was a great friend and a great father. The kids all loved him.”

Witmer and Lemon Bay High boys weightlifting coach Don Southwell both grew up in Arcadia.

“My family has known his in laws for years,” Southwell said. “We went to the same high school (DeSoto).

“He was a great guy. He will be missed.”

Besides being a high school coach, Witmer also was a standout powerlifter. He had best lifts of 925 pounds in the squad, 600 pounds in the bench press and 725 pounds in the deadlift.

E-mail: brown@sun-herald.com