​Panama City, Fla.—Don Deaton, the longtime Bay High School football coach, athletic director, and educator whose influence shaped generations of student-athletes in Bay County, passed away Saturday night, according to a post from Bay High School Athletics on Facebook. Deaton spent 35 years coaching in Bay County and earned a reputation as one of the area’s most respected coaches and administrators. His impact on Bay High athletics went far beyond the football field, marking him as a central figure in one of the school’s most celebrated eras.
Deaton began as an assistant coach on Bay High’s 1976 state championship football team—the only football state title in Bay County history—and later succeeded the legendary John Cobb as the Tornadoes’ head football coach. He eventually served as the school’s athletic director, guiding the growth and development of Bay High’s athletic programs. He also broke new ground as Bay High’s first girls track and field coach, helping expand opportunities for female student-athletes during the early years of girls’ interscholastic sports.
His lasting contributions were formally recognized in 2021 when he was inducted into the Bay High Athletics Hall of Fame. In announcing his passing, Bay High Athletics described Deaton as a coach, teacher, mentor, and leader who dedicated decades of service to the school. The post emphasized that his influence extended beyond wins and losses, crediting him with teaching “character, discipline, perseverance” and helping shape generations of Tornadoes.
Panama City Mayor Allan Branch honored Deaton in a social media tribute, calling him “one of our community’s finest” and a Bay County legend whose legacy cannot be measured solely by championships or awards. Branch noted that Deaton’s greatest achievement was mentoring countless young people and making Bay High and Panama City better simply by showing up for others. He also praised the Deaton family for carrying forward his example of service through coaching, mentoring, and volunteer work, saying Deaton’s legacy will live on through his family and the generations of student-athletes whose lives he touched.
Deaton is survived by his wife, Carol, and his sons, Mark and David, who continue the family’s coaching tradition as leaders of Bay High’s wrestling program. “Once a Tornado, always a Tornado,” Bay High Athletics stated in its tribute. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Deaton family during this difficult time.” Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, July 18, at Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home.
Adebanji Bamidele is a sports reporter for the Panama City News Herald. He can be reached for more information regarding this obituary and related coverage.