GAINESVILLE,FL: (April 7) --- St. Petersburg Lakewood High School basketball coach Danny Wright has been named the 2005 Florida Dairy Farmers Boys’ Basketball Coach-of-the-Year.

Wright is the 13th winner of the annual award, sponsored by Florida Dairy Farmers, Inc. and the Florida Athletic Coaches Association. A statewide panel of high school coaches and prep media representatives voted on the award honoring the top high school coach for the 2004-05 season.

In his 28th year as head coach at Lakewood High School, Wright led his team to the Class 4A state title with a record of 32-2. Wright has won 13 district titles and two state titles (2002 and 2005). He has been named Pinellas County Coach-of-the-Year four times and compiled a record of 555-253.

"We raise our milk glasses to coach Wright for a job well done this season," said Bob Butler, an Okeechobee dairy farmer and president of Dairy Farmers, Inc. "Coach Wright is a great example of what we're looking for in a winner of this award. We're confident that Coach Wright will represent this honor and the Florida Dairy Farmers in a positive manner and we wish him continued success in the future."

Wright, who was earlier chosen as the Class 4A Coach-of-the-Year, finished ahead of Class 5A Coach-of-the-Year Fred Ross of Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer as well as winners from the four other state classifications. Both Wright and Ross received eight of the 28 first-place votes, but Wright tallied eight second-place votes to Ross’ seven as he totalled 181 points to Ross’ 175 points.

Lorenzo Hands of Palm Beach Lakes, the Class 6A Coach-of-the-Year, finished third with 136 points followed by Aubin Goporo of Florida Air Academy (Class 3A) with 109 points, Kelly Beckham of Bronson (Class 2A) with 98 points and Juan Ramirez of Miami Northwest Christian (Class 1A) with 73 points.

The Florida Dairy Farmers Sports Awards program exemplifies Dairy Farmers Inc.'s commitment to the state's youth. While honoring the state's top athletes and coaches in all 24 FHSAA-sanctioned sports, the program also emphasizes to young people the importance of keeping dairy products a primary part of their diet in their overall nutrition plan.