Local foundation donates 250 Guardian Caps to Hernando County varsity football teams

Nick Holmes and business partners donated 250 Guardian Caps to Hernando County Schools’ five varsity football programs, Hernando County School District officials announced at the June 3 school board meeting.

Dustin Kupchak, the district athletic director, said the donation supplied 50 Guardian Caps to each of the district’s five varsity football teams and that the items were valued at “over $13,000.” Kupchak said the caps are a removable padded shell that been adopted by the NFL in practice settings and that research shows they can reduce the force of some impacts by as much as about 33 percent depending on direction.

Nick Holmes, who was at the meeting with Dominique Holmes and Chris Dyer, said the group wanted Hernando County to be among the first Florida districts to outfit teams. “We wanted Hernando County to be the first place that this could actually happen,” Holmes said. He and partners told the board they expected the private donations to cover additional junior varsity players and Hernando Christian Academy players who were not included in the initial distribution.

Chris Dyer, representing Lucas McQuisen Dyer law firm and business partners, said he and Holmes would cover remaining costs if additional funds were needed. “We already have enough pledges here to go ahead and announce tonight that we will be able to cover the rest of the JV players as well…we’re gonna go ahead and make that happen,” Dyer said, referencing roughly $11,000 still needed, per his remarks.

Kupchak thanked Holmes, the Holmes Family Foundation and a list of contributing businesses for the donation and said the district expects the caps to be in use by the time full-contact practices begin.

The district did not report a formal board vote connected to the donation; the item was presented as a recognition.