The 35th annual Winged Foot Scholarship Banquet will feature a speech by former Gators coach Dan Mullen.
At the event, which will take place at the Naples Grande Resort on Friday, May 10, fifteen high school athletes from Collier County will be recognized, and the Winged Foot winner will be revealed.
Winged Foot chairman Buddy Hornbeck stated in a release that Dan “will be a great speaker for the event and should deliver a great message to all of the recipients for our 35th annual banquet.”
Mullen guided the Florida Gators to three consecutive New Year’s Six Bowl appearances from 2017 to 2020. Previously, from 2005 to 2008, he served as the offensive coordinator for the Gators, helping them win two BCS National Championships.
After nine seasons as Mississippi State’s head coach, Mullen left his position in 2017 and returned to Gainesville, where he guided the preseason underdog Gators to one of their biggest turnarounds ever with a 10-win season in 2018. Mullen had four seasons with the Gators, going 34–15, with an SEC East championship in 2020.
Mullen was hired by Mississippi State at the age of 36, making him the youngest FBS coach in history between his two stints at Florida. For the first time in school history, he guided the Bulldogs to the top of the college football polls in 2014. During his nine seasons with the Bulldogs, Mullen broke over 100 school records and guided the team to an unprecedented eight straight bowl games.
In addition to winning the George Munger National Coach of the Year Award, Mullen was voted the 2014 SEC Coach of the Year.
Carole Ann Hussey, a great volleyball player at Seacrest, was chosen for the 2023 Winged Foot Award. A representative from each of the fifteen high schools in the county will have an informal interview with the Winged Foot Selection Committee in April. The 2024 laureate will subsequently be chosen by the committee and announced during the banquet.
Individual banquet tickets cost $500; corporate table sponsorships cost $4,000 and include 8 tickets along with recognition in the banquet program; and event sponsorships cost $8,000 and include 16 tickets, background logos, and vocal recognition. There are further sponsoring options accessible.