High School

Devon Gales named North Port (Florida) football head coach

Gales, a Bobcats' graduate, previously coached at Pinellas Park from 2018 to 2024

Andy Villamarzo

The North Port Bobcats march onto the field as Darth Vader's Imperial March music plays on the public address system. The IMG Academy Blue Ascenders hosted the North Port Bobcats for a Thursday night varsity football game in Bradenton.
The North Port Bobcats march onto the field as Darth Vader's Imperial March music plays on the public address system. The IMG Academy Blue Ascenders hosted the North Port Bobcats for a Thursday night varsity football game in Bradenton. / Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK

After going through what has been the program's most successful stint under the guidance of Garon Belser, North Port High School has found his replacement.

North Port graduate and former Pinellas Park offensive coordinator Devon Gales has been named the Bobcats new head football coach, according to the school's athletic department via X on Thursday afternoon. Gales replaces Belser, who coached the team from 2021-2024, compiling an overall record of 13-24.

Gales has been coaching ever since he graduated from North Port back in 2013. The new Bobcats' lead man started off as North Port's freshmen offensive coordinator from 2014-2016. Following season, Gales was promoted to varsity quality control and then junior varsity head coach the next year.

After the 2017 season, Gales left to coach at Pinellas Park and served as an offensive assistant before taking over as the coodinator in 2022.

Now Gales will be tasked in taking over a North Port program that's seen its best two-season stretch in the last two years, going 11-9.

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-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @highschoolonsi

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Andy Villamarzo
ANDY VILLAMARZO

Andy Villamarzo has been a sports writer in the Tampa Bay (FL) Area since 2007, writing for publications such as Tampa Bay Times, The Tampa Tribune, The Suncoast News, Tampa Beacon, Hernando Sun to name a few. Andy resides out of the Tarpon Springs, FL area and started as a writer with SB Live Sports in the summer of 2022 covering the Tampa Bay Area. He has quickly become one of Florida's foremost authorities on high school sports, appearing frequently on podcasts, radio programs and digital broadcasts as an expert on team rankings, recruiting and much more.

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