The Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame exists to honor the memory of those individuals who, through participation or support of interest, have made outstanding contributions to their school’s athletics and have helped bring recognition and excellence to their programs. Three-time track and field state champion Head Coach Barrett Saunders, ‘03 will be inducted into the Palm Beach Hall of Fame this year.
“Being inducted into the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame is an honor. Anytime you can be recognized alongside some of the best athletes and coaches in Palm Beach County, it is something you dream of while growing up. Achieving this recognition is truly humbling,” Coach Saunders exclaimed.
Coach Saunders graduated from Benjamin in 2003 and played football and ran track during his time at the high school. He set numerous school records, was a state champion in the triple jump and long jump, and was an All-American. He ran track at the University of Kansas, where he was an All-American once more and became a Big 12 Champion.
“I knew I had talent when I was at Benjamin, but I had no idea I would go on to become an All-American in college or qualify for the Olympic trials twice. I definitely had no clue that I would become a three-time state champion coach. I have truly been blessed to have accomplished so much,” Coach Saunders remarked.
Former head coach of the cross country and the track and field teams, Mrs. Franci Jefferson, gave Coach Saunders his start several seasons ago when he served as an assistant coach. In a reversal of roles, Mrs. Jefferson now serves as one of his assistants; she views his selection with admiration.
“He deserves that honor. I’m so proud of him, he has developed a powerhouse track team over the last eight years, and even with yearly graduations, the culture he’s established has led to continued success,” Jefferson said.
Sophomore Isabelle Downey, who has been on the track team for four years, is just one of the countless student-athletes Coach Saunders’ coaching has impacted.
“He is a good coach and he is patient in helping you get better,” Downey explains. “He works in a way that he won’t stop until you understand, and I really appreciate that.”
Along with Downey, junior Julian Luiz sees the little things that make Coach Saunders such a success.
“He knows something about every single event. He is always trying to make each person better as a person, shaping them into a leader or teaching them to take in more information. He is a great athlete too, so it is easier to want to learn from someone when you see that he can do it way better than any of us,” Luiz remarked.
Luiz has been a part of the three-peat state championship and is a state champion himself at Benjamin with Saunders, and so has senior Mike Winfield. Winfield is committed to run track at the University of North Florida, in no small part because of Coach Saunders’ support and guidance.
“Coach Saunders is one of the most intelligent coaches I have ever been around. Having experience in the world of track makes it easy to relate to athletes as well as easier to coach,” Winfield stated. “Comparing him to other coaches I have ever had in the past is night and day. He is the most hands-on coach I have ever had and always demonstrates drills which makes it easier for us to understand.”
Mrs. Jefferson loved to see how he developed as a coach.
“It has been amazing to watch him develop such successful athletes. When I retired from Jupiter High School, he asked me to coach his high jumpers. I’ve had such a great time working with him. He is so organized, has developed an outstanding culture where the upperclassmen lead the younger athletes and gathered outstanding assistant coaches to develop the skills the kids need,”
Coach Saunders’ induction ceremony will be held on March 16, 2025, at 2195 Southern Blvd, Ste 550, West Palm Beach, FL, 33406.
