As sure as his sharpshooting athletes, Wayne M. Allen has always been focused on building successful programs. Allen has enjoyed a successful playing and coaching career built on hard work and dedication. Born on February 9, 1953 in Wildwood, Florida, Wayne M. Allen attended JRE Lee School from 1960-68 before the school was closed and merged with Wildwood High School where he attended from 1968-71. Allen was a standout athlete in football, basketball, track, and he was a member of the band. He was a part of the first integrated team in Wildwood to win a football state championship in 1970 where he earned All-State honors as a running back. Allen also earned All-State honors on the basketball court from 1969-71 scoring 55 points in the state championship game during his senior season. He has already been inducted into the Wildwood Hall of Fame at his alma mater where his accolades were recognized by the community and school.

These accolades earned him a scholarship to Bethune-Cookman College from 1971-75 where he enjoyed an outstanding college football career as a running back. During his senior year, he finished as a runner-up to Walter Payton for the Black Heisman Trophy award, which is given to a running back from a predominantly black institution and is equivalent to the Heisman trophy. During the ’74 season he established what was at the time a single-game rushing record (266 yds) at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida. After graduation, Allen went on to briefly play for the Kansas City Chiefs before joining Ocala Vanguard High School.

Since becoming a coach in 1975 Wayne Allen has coached countless youth, many of which who have gone on to become coaches. Throughout his over four decades of coaching, Allen has coached basketball, football, volleyball, softball, track, and baseball. Allen had an outstanding high school coaching career. At Ocala Vanguard High School, he compiled a record of 168-32, while leading Vanguard’s girls basketball team to multiple final four appearances and two Florida Class 3A State Championships. He was also an assistant for legendary coach Jim Haley, winning three Class 3A State Championships in addition to multiple final four appearances. During this time, he was named FHSAA Coach of the Year in 81’-82’ and 82’-83’ along with numerous other honors and merits. Not only were his basketball teams successful, but he led the volleyball team to multiple final four appearances as well. His success at Ocala Vanguard High School earned him a spot in the Vanguard High School Hall of Fame and his first collegiate coaching position beginning his career as an assistant coach with Florida State University where he coached from 1984-1987.

In 1987 Allen took over the helm at Florida Atlantic University where in his eleven seasons at the helm, the Owls tallied a 161-143 record, good for a .530 winning percentage, made three consecutive trips to the Division II playoffs (four total appearances), and guided FAU to a TAAC Tournament Championship appearance in only the second season of FAU eligibility. During his tenure at FAU, Wayne Allen was extremely influential in the fight for Title IX among other battles for female opportunities in the sports world. In 2000, Allen returned to the high school ranks where he continued coaching basketball as well as football and volleyball for 10 years before retiring in 2010.

Allen enjoyed his retirement fishing, traveling, mentoring, and putting on coaching clinics for 10 years before moving back to his hometown of Wildwood, Florida. In 2020 his desire to continue giving back to his community led him to coming out of retirement to become an assistant coach at his alma mater Wildwood Middle High School (Wildwood HS). Since joining the coaching staff, he has helped lead the Lady Cats to three consecutive 20-win seasons, three district championships, two regional championships, and back-to-back Class 1A State Runner-up finishes in Lakeland. Wayne M. Allen is engaged to Betty Ferguson and has two sons Quincy Allen and Marcus Allen from a previous marriage. In his free time, Allen travels around the state fishing and coaching and mentoring kids throughout his community. He is a Kansas City Chiefs, Florida State Seminoles, and Wildwood Wildcat fan to the core. Throughout his successful career he has made it clear that it was never about him, but always about children and giving them all the opportunities, he wishes he had.