PLANT CITY, Fla. — From the moment the Durant Cougars take the field, you immediately notice their vibe. It’s starts at the top.

What You Need To Know

  •  Claybo Varnum is a 2011 Durant High graduate

  •  He got his start in coaching at his alma mater as an assistant

  •  Varnum took over the program when the coach he played for, Mike Gottman, left for East Bay

The head coach at Durant has one of the most interesting names in high school football. Claybo Varnum has also turned Durant into one of the most interesting football programs in the Bay Area. He’s spent a good portion of his young life on a football sideline because Friday nights have always provided another level of energy.

“I tell you, that feeling never goes away,” Varnum said.

Friday nights have been good for Varnum and Durant this season. In their final regular season game, the Cougars won their second-straight district title and punched their ticket to the post-season with a win over Riverview. In the regional quarterfinals, Durant blanked Palm Harbor University 33-0.

For the first time since 2012, the Cougars have advanced to the second round of the playoffs.

“Just extreme discipline from our guys,” Varnum said. “They are day in and day out. They do the little things the right way. And when I’m not looking, they’re still doing things the right way, cause I can find ways to see what’s going on. And they are just true character kids.”

The players feed off of their coach who is incredibly invested at Durant. You could argue he bleeds blue and gold. His devotion to the Cougars football program began when the 2011 alum played for them. It continued when he became an assistant at his alma mater. And his passion was renewed when he succeeded Mike Gottman, the man who coached him.

“It’s the belief in the place that taught me,” he said. “I can instill that into another group behind me. This school has been so good to me, gave me my first job, my first volunteer opportunity as a coach and I love it.”

Varnum wants to take Durant to the next level. No longer just content with making the post-season, he wants the Cougars to be one of the perennials that make deep runs. And one day, win the school’s first state championship. Because of everything Durant’s given to this life, Varnum wants to pay it back.

“I love it like it’s my own family,” Varnum said. “It is. It’s my home. So I try to give everything back to it.”