Head Football coach Brian McCartney takes home coach of the year to West Broward.

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Family Matters: Head Coach Brian McCartney embraces his son Uryah McCartney after state championship loss to West Boca High School 31-0

By: Victoria Carmona

In his sixth year at West Broward as head coach of the football team , Brian McCartney was named the 2025 Southeast Regional Coach of the Year and a finalist for the Florida Dairy Farmers Coach of the Year. This comes after the Bobcats have a historical season, going 12-3 and heading to the State Championship game for the first time in school history.

After a successful season filled with firsts. Coach McCartney was at the front, leading the West Broward Bobcats to their first-ever regional semi-final win, regional final win, state semi-final win, and the first state championship appearance. Not only is McCartney representing the school but he is representing Broward county as he is one of two coaches in the last 50 years to take his team to the state finals.

“It is cool because I was the only public school recognized. It is cool to represent the public schools because these awards are usually given to the private schools that have a little bit more funding,”

When first arriving here at West Broward, Coach McCartney and his new staff evaluated the team and decided they needed to make adjustments. Ever since that first day the Bobcats have improved every season. This is credited to McCartney’s awareness of school choice and bringing in some of the most talented players in Florida. Every athlete he took in he treats like his own son, creating a family like environment that only grew bigger every season.

ICED OUT: Head Coach Brian McCartney gets a bucket of ice dumped after securing the 24- 17 win against Buchholz High School, which helped lead the team to the state championship

“We treat everyone as if we are family. That is where Coach McCartney leads from the front in that aspect. He takes these kids in and treats them like his own sons,” said assistant football coach Nicholas Cozzatti. “Coach McCartney helped to grow the program, bringing in good coaches, keeping the team organized. Kids that are good players throughout the state. Now they are starting to see West Broward as a potential landing spot to come in and join the program and support our school,”

The success of the 2025 season has set a new standard for the future of West Broward football. With a strong foundation built on discipline, trust, and consistency, the Bobcats have turned into a program that expects to compete at the highest level every year. Coach McCartney’s leadership has not only changed the record books, but also the mindset around the program, as players, coaches, and the community now believe that state championship runs are the goal.

“People know where West Broward is now. Colleges and players want to come to school here. So it is kind of exciting. Coming on other sides of the football, it helps out to a point, but in all reality, it is more as long as our coaches still work together and still compete at a state championship level people will come,” said McCartney.