Gary "Coach" Halbert

Gary Russell Halbert passed away peacefully on 10/15/2023. He was born in Ames, IA to Webb and Sandra Halbert. He moved to Sarasota in 1962.
After graduating from Florida State University he returned to Sarasota to devote more than 45 years of his life to teaching and coaching.
He began his career as a coach at Riverview High School where he was the boy's assistant basketball coach. He took his talent to Sarasota Junior High School and built what many called a boy's basketball dynasty.
He went on to spend more than 25 years at Sarasota High School as a math teacher, head boy's basketball coach, head girl's volleyball coach, head girl's track coach and assistant athletic director. After a severe injury he continued coaching but limited himself to the girl's volleyball and basketball programs. For countless years he was a familiar voice to Sarasota Sailor fans as the Friday night football announcer.
In 2003 he pursued an opportunity to teach and coach girl's volleyball and basketball at Venice High School until his retirement in 2010. He quickly realized retirement wasn't for him and he returned to teaching at Sarasota Military Academy and coaching girl's volleyball at Venice Area Middle School.
His love of coaching kept him on the court almost year round where he worked with numerous club volleyball programs during his career. He was recognized for achieving over 300 wins as a Sailor volleyball coach and was proud to help lead the lady Indians to a state title in 2005.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Webb and Sandra Halbert and his son Henry Russell.
He will be deeply missed by his surviving family, brother Randall Halbert (Renee) of Sarasota, his three daughters, Holli Miller (Dave), Colleen Ray (Brandon), Nicole Halbert (Mark), and his grandchildren Austin Miller, Dylan Miller, Branson Ray and Niko Cristiani.
A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, October 22nd at The Daiquiri Deck,1250 Stickney Point Rd, Siesta Key, from 9am-11am.