By Kyle Coppola
Bubba Boone is Built for Friday Nights, Ready for What’s Next
Bubba Boone
South Sumter High School senior defensive back Bubba Boone doesn’t just enjoy sports, he loves them.
Inspired by his family, Bubba has been lacing up cleats since he was 4 or 5 years old. His father played. His brother Malakhi is still playing at UCF. And now, Bubba is carrying the torch as Malakhi continues to push him to be better.
“He meant a lot to me growing up,” Bubba says of his older brother. “I always looked up to him. He’s a good athlete and someone who motivates me.”
Bubba has made a name for himself at South Sumter, excelling not only on the football field but the baseball diamond, just like his brother.
Bubba says he loves both sports equally. “I was playing baseball before I could remember. I always had a bat in my hand.”
But it’s not just talent that defines Boone, it’s his work ethic and character. With a 3.5 GPA, Bubba understands the importance of academics and is eyeing a future in business or sports business management.
“You could be a great player, but without academics, you can’t make it to the next level. You’ve got to stay on top of that,” he says.
In the weight room, Bubba credits coaches Chris Gauntlett and Earl Everett for his physical transformation from a 5-foot-11, 150-pound freshman to a 6-foot-3, 195-pound senior.
“They’ve really pushed me to get stronger every day,” he says. “I got faster and stronger physically, but also mentally as a person.”
Inside South Sumter’s weight room, motivation literally hangs on the walls. Photos of NFL standouts Everett, Keanu Neal and Clinton Hart are reminders of what’s possible.
“There’s a high standard here. That’s what they expect,” Bubba says. “Looking at that wall every day gives me motivation. I know I can get there too.”
Bubba’s favorite football memory? Last year’s regional semifinal baseball series.
“When we won against Nature Coast Tech last year, the whole community came out,” he recalls. “It was great to see. That’s the kind of place South Sumter is. A place where people support one another.”
The bond with his teammates runs deep. Bubba describes the program as a brotherhood; something built during long summer camps and hours of practice.
When he’s not competing, Bubba gives back by continuing the cycle of mentorship that shaped him by volunteering and helping with local Little League games.
“I love this game, and I love this place,” he says. “But I know this is just the beginning.”
Photos: Nicole Hamel
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
